[LeroyJenkinsParticipant]

This is a question for those who are like me, in the U.S. and have limited access to the game but yet still love it.

For me the spurs have always been one of my favorite teams(along with the Kings and Pistons of the early 2000s) I heard about some of my favorite players such as Ginobli and Pejas exploits for their foreign pro teams but never thought twice about actually watching those teams since i figured there was no way for me to see them anyway.

I checked this sight (and that other site that shall not be mentioned) religiously, and was fascinated with players such as chen jianghua,nemanja aleksandrov, and other international prospects, but like before i figured i wouldnt have a way to see them play and depended on draft websites scouting reports to keep me updated

Then i saw my first Euroleague game…it was on a channel we have here  that is pretty much a week long free preview for random channels such as hbo,disney channel, etc. But one week it was NBATV and they showed the Euroleague 2003–04 finals  Maccabi Tel Aviv defeating Skipper Bologna…and i was hooked.( not to mention waking up just to pee later that summer i saw Manu hit a game winner against China in the olympics)

Ever since then i have followed , not only prospects, but the international game period.

My question is what inspired you as an American to follow international basketball

 

 

[Scottoant93Participant]

I always follow italian basketball rooting for where I was born, Virtus Monte Di Procida, they are like a c2 league team, I think lega B is the hightest they can go since its a small town and it wouldn’t meet stadium requirements for 1st division. I also root for all the italian players in nba(bargnani, Belinelli, and Gallo). That whats got me interested in international basketball. Im not american but I lived in the states since I was 1.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I really just love basketball in general, and I probably really started taking international basketball seriously in 2002 and definitely by 2004 when the US started losing in international competition. When I was a kid, I thought that all of the best players played in the NBA, and that playing internationally meant you were not good enough. Not only was I wrong than, but I become more and more wrong every year. Their are some fantastic players who play over in Europe, many of whom could contribute to NBA teams and help them a great deal. International basketball is so incredibly competitive now, and while team USA usually possesses the most superior players in terms of athleticism, other countries skill sets are incredible. The shooting of the best players in international play can be incredible and the focus on fundamental and team basketball over physical and athletic domination has a lot of merit.

I do not watch a lot of European league basketball, but I very much like international competition amongst countries, like the World Championships and Olympics. You see amazing performances sometimes, like Big Sofo and Greece beating the US in 2006. That World Championship gave me a huge appreciation for Pau Gasol, who was dominant and Spain in general, as they ended up winning the Gold Medal without an injured Pau in the final. It also definitely showed that while the NBA may be the premier league from top to bottom, other countries have players that can definitely compete with the Americans and could potentially beat them. Greece did not have a single player on the 2006 squad playing in the NBA. Schortsianitis may have been drafted by the Clips, and he more than likely would not be a star player, but he played his role to perfection in International play and has had a successful pro career.

The best basketball players in the world really hail from all over the globe, and while the best NBA players may excel if they played in the Euro leagues, they would have a lot of competition. We have seen that international basketball players have been key pieces for championship teams in the NBA, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all having international experience before playing in the NBA (Tim Duncan is from Virgin Islands, but he played NCAA basketball rather than going through the Pro leagues). I watch international basketball to see some great basketball players and because I love following the game. I cheer for the USA, but I like knowing the competition and seeing how they play. I hope the best international players come to the NBA, but I know that if they stay, the competition is always fierce. Always like hearing about the best prospects possible playing at the highest level, but it has been shown that on any day these teams could beat some of the best. It may not mean that they are better than NBA teams, maybe the Euroleague champs would be bottom feeders playing an NBA style game, but at the same time, these teams have some fantastic basketball players, many of whom can compete at the highest level when it comes to basketball.

[American_BallerParticipant]

I never watch International basketball, but I love American ball players and love to see them do well in Europe and am baffled when International fans don’t give my favorite players props!!!!  It pisses me the F off!!!, so much so that I swill down a few PBR’s and go on International basketball forums and talk crap on those stupid fans so they know how good American players are!!  I’ll admit it I don’t know crap about International ball, how players get signed and what kind of players succeed over there, but damnit!!! I’m right!!!

now If you’ll excuse me, the broken down car in my front lawn is on fire

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

I think that Hedo Turkoglu, Peja, and Steve Nash are pimps.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

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[RUDEBOY_Participant]

LOL

[McDunkin]

hahahahaha!!!!

He knows its getting close to summer school time…and we all remember last summer

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

..

[LeroyJenkinsParticipant]

MikeyVthedoofus – OMG! Didnt i ask you nicely to not do a essay paper in my thread? I wish i could run you over with my go-kart and get those five minutes of my like back, kind of like in GTA with the hookers.

McDummy – You are a lame lame lame. Thats so old and nobody even cares about it. I would knock that jerks block off if i ever saw her again.

Rudebitch- So we meet again you slut. Do you notice how you didnt even answer the freaking question? Get out.

[Raef LaFrentzParticipant]

What got me hooked?

Promise not to laugh?

Oleksiy Pecherov.

Disturbing, but true.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Damn you are grumpy! Man, this post was sinking and I brought it back from the dead. Nonetheless, I wish I could have all the time it has taken me to read the one sentence ridiculous posts of Rudeboy_ back, but it will never happen. 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

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[Author]

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