The Rise of NBA In Asia: Going Global

The NBA, or the National Basketball Association to give it its full name, debuted in the summer of 1946. And, it’s fair to say that it has very much remained a North American thing for many years. It is, of course, the primary basketball league in the territory, but, over time, its popularity has seen it become a global product.

Like other leading sporting divisions, such as the English Premier League, it was recognised that if you launched the NBA in other territories around the globe, it would maximise revenue, popularity and status. So, you could say it’s smart business on the NBA’s behalf, with Asia one of the areas where they have quickly gained a foothold, largely based on the popularity of basketball in many of its regions.

We found when looking at bwin’s basketball odds, Asian countries such as Australia, China, Japan and South Korea all feature on a long list of nations with their own active basketball leagues, which shows just how far the sport has come in a relatively short space of time. But, where did this expansion begin, and where is it eventually aiming to be in years to come?

You could go as far back as the early 2000s to discover that Australia became a hub for talent to be developed and then to come to the fore because of the access to facilities provided. As a result, players such as Ben Simmons, Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage have all made it.

But, what has been the case for a long time is that what Australia had and have in terms of facilities, coaching, and so on, many other countries based in Asia don’t, and this has been a stumbling block. But, the NBA, thanks to their Jr. NBA Program, alongside NBA Asia, which is headquartered in Hong Kong, is changing all of the above.

Take the Philippines as an example. It’s a country with a real passion for basketball. And Kai Sotto, the 7 ft 2 in centre who hails from Las Pinas, has had to travel outside of his homeland to turn professional. The nineteen-year-old signed with National Basketball League outfit Adelaide 36ers in 2021 and is going from strength to strength.
The NBA aims to develop in countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Via NBA Asia, government support has been secured in multiple regions, leading to better facilities, more equipment and dedicated coaching being available to millions. And it’s providing these foundations in local areas that will naturally allow for scale, which can go on to lead to the formation of significant competitive leagues akin to those seen in Asian territories already.

So, if you didn’t think so already, while the NBA remains massive in North America, it’s now very much a global product. And not only that, it is growing all the time because of the work that the National Basketball Association is putting in at grassroots level, which will allow for serious expansion and development.