Anyone Else Wish Basketball was as Competitive as Soccer Internationally?

[FKAri]

I dream of a day where the World Championships or Olympics have even half the level of parity we see in international soccer. I don't know if basketball can ever become that popular but 20 years ago I would've never imagined even the current level of competition. The possibility excites me. I hope basketball continues to grow.

On a side note, we are such a large and developed country so it's possible our soccer program might become world class some day too. Probably earlier than others will catch up to us in basketball.

Either way I love international competition.

[Maniak]

Yes.

The more basketball the better.

[Punpun]

I can only dream about other leauges being as competitive as the NBA. Thus adding World cups for teams and all. It'd be godly.

:bowdown:

[FKAri]

I can only dream about other leauges being as competitive as the NBA. Thus adding World cups for teams and all. It'd be godly.

:bowdown:

We already see European styles of play make their mark in the NBA and I think it's wonderful if in the future more of that can happen. It would be great to see teams and players who play very different stylistically clash in matchups.

[JohnnySic]

Its plenty competitive if you remove the US from the equation.

[get these NETS]

soccer in America will never be top tier.

US has had some decent showing in cups and international play but will NEVER attract the country's best athletes.....period.


====================

International basketball IS very competitive.....second best team in the world was always a former soviet bloc team....but that's changed.

all time great players don't grow on vines....so when your kobes, lebron's wades retire.....there's no guarantee that USA team is always gonna win gold


you see how with bad coaching..US lost to international teams before....

so when current stars leave the game...and they get another ineffective coach a la Karl or Brown.... it's up for grabs again..

[Dwade305]

Basketball in America is a poor mans sport, in almost every other country it is a rich man's sport. Nothing will beat soccer as the international sport because all you need is something that resembles a ball that you can kick, and a goal.

Been to many countries were it so f*cking difficult to find a court to play ball in. If you do find one it is privately owned and need to pay or if its owned by the local goverment, those f*cker rent their courts out too, It was very odd.

[wang4three]

For this to happen, the rest of the world would have to be more competitive in basketball. For the most part the US dominates this and will continue to dominate. It's not fun if you have one guy that always wins and does it so convincingly. At least with soccer you'll have multiple nations that could win the title.

[cuad]

Basketball is ****ed, in my opinion, because you need so much special equipment to play it.

[FKAri]

Basketball in America is a poor mans sport, in almost every other country it is a rich man's sport. Nothing will beat soccer as the international sport because all you need is something that resembles a ball that you can kick, and a goal.

Been to many countries were it so f*cking difficult to find a court to play ball in. If you do find one it is privately owned and need to pay or if its owned by the local goverment, those f*cker rent their courts out too, It was very odd.

This is very true. Also, if you look at some of the best international players, they come from well to do upbringings. The opposite is true for most US born players.

[DaSeba5]

I wish basketball and American football was.

[DuMa]

it will never happen. soccer will reign the king forever for its incredible ease to pick it up as a youth. just need a ball and grass

[Punpun]

it will never happen. soccer will reign the king forever for its incredible ease to pick it up as a youth. just need a ball and grass

Just need a ball you mean. No grass is needed to play it as a kid.

[Psileas]

Apart from the popularity factor, we have to consider the very nature of these sports: Soccer is structured in such a way that it allows upsets to happen way more easily, thus creating the aura of higher competition, even though it's not played at an equally high level throughout the world (it's another thing to say that soccer is played in the whole world - so is basketball, even though it's less popular - and another thing to imply that all countries are strong and competitive, which of course is false). In basketball, the better team wins in the vast majority of times or, at worst, they lose by small margins.

[chips93]

there is a possibility that the last decade or so has been a kind of golden era for a few nations, and in the next few years, there will be even less parity

teams like argentina, france, spain dont have a ton of young talent coming through, at least not enough to maintain their current standing in international basketball

[Swaggin916]

i certainly do. If the USA isn't playing it's not that interesting because they are clearly the cream of the crop. If it were like Soccer and you have 10-15 teams that legitimately had a shot to win. Soccer is a whole different anumal tho... there are so many variables it's much easier for a team who is clearly better than the rest to lose. It's why what Spain has done is so amazing.

[UtahJazzFan88]

Yeah, I would love for it to have more international popularity, but I think the popularity has started to catch on a little bit in the past few years, other teams are catching up to the US a little bit.

[Grinder]

these is a possibility that the last decade or so has been a kind of golden era for a few nations, and in the next few years, there will be even less parity

teams like argentina, france, spain dont have a ton of young talent coming through, at least not enough to maintain their current standing in international basketball

France and Spain absolutely do. The level of French basketball is steadily improving way down through the youth ranks, Spain has a few monsters that'll be lottery picks in the next few years and some good very young players already (Rubio, Mirotic, Ibaka, Claver), and Lithuania has an incredible generation of young players that'll be significantly better than their current team. Turkey's regularly turning out NBA prospects and have 3 promising second rounders that'll develop in Europe this season.

China and Brazil are producing some very nice young players in the coming years too.

[AlonzoGOAT]

soccer in America will never be top tier.

US has had some decent showing in cups and international play but will NEVER attract the country's best athletes.....period.


====================

International basketball IS very competitive.....second best team in the world was always a former soviet bloc team....but that's changed.

all time great players don't grow on vines....so when your kobes, lebron's wades retire.....there's no guarantee that USA team is always gonna win gold


you see how with bad coaching..US lost to international teams before....

so when current stars leave the game...and they get another ineffective coach a la Karl or Brown.... it's up for grabs again..


Same thing can be said about the best teams in soccer but no one has reigned like the U.S in basketball so I don't get your point and as for kobe/lebron/wade retiring we still have young players growing like kyrie, durant and more..

[AAckley1]

This is very true. Also, if you look at some of the best international players, they come from well to do upbringings. The opposite is true for most US born players.

This is actually false these days. AAU, new shoes, camps etc all cost money. I'll try to find it but there was an article talking about how the NBA is at an all time low when it comes to inner city kids.

[chips93]

France and Spain absolutely do. The level of French basketball is steadily improving way down through the youth ranks, Spain has a few monsters that'll be lottery picks in the next few years and some good very young players already (Rubio, Mirotic, Ibaka, Claver), and Lithuania has an incredible generation of young players that'll be significantly better than their current team. Turkey's regularly turning out NBA prospects and have 3 promising second rounders that'll develop in Europe this season.

China and Brazil are producing some very nice young players in the coming years too.


ill just re-iterate that i said that 'there is a possibility'

are any of these youngsters projected to be as good as ginobili, scola, parker, or the gasols?

second round talent isnt gonna keep other international teams competitive with america, the way the likes of gasol, parker and ginobili have



im not saying anything for certain, im just saying there a possibility that the last 10 years have been an anomaly for international basketball.

[Grinder]

are any of these youngsters projected to be as good as ginobili, scola, parker, or the gasols?


There's a few that could be on that level, yes.



second round talent isnt gonna keep other international teams competitive with america, the way the likes of gasol, parker and ginobili have


A lot of international players are drafted in the second round because of contract situations/uncertainty on whether or not they'll come over, not necessarily on their talent level. For example, Bojan Bogdanovic would have been an almost sure fire first rounder last year otherwise.



im not saying anything for certain, im just saying there a possibility that the last 10 years have been an anomaly for international basketball.

I don't see why it would be an anomaly rather than just a steady improvement in the cultivation of skills and better coaching and more participation in other countries. More and more countries around the world are producing big time talents nowadays. Look at Canada...they're consistently producing first rounders now and could have a future top 3 overall pick with Andrew Wiggins...same with Australia and Dante Exum, New Zealand with Steven Adams, etc.

[chips93]

i get that there may be some guys on the way, way down the line, but lets say over the last 5 drafts, how many international all-stars have been drafted? how many legit studs have been drafted? rubio, valanciunas, gallinari, ibaka. these guys are nice, but all stars they are not.

maybe the last 10 years wasnt an anamoly, but the next 5 could absolutely be some lean years for international teams.

[magnax1]

I think having multiple elite basketball leagues like Soccer would bug me, but it would make for more interesting international competitions if Basketball was as popular as soccer.

[Nick Young]

USA national team is already as good as England's, and they invented the sport. We will be a football super power soon. (Say all you want about Rooney, better individual talent blah blah but fact is both Donavan and Dempsey are better than Rooney in terms of production in international football, and football is a team game)

In terms of basketball, I think China one day can become competitive with us. They have 1 billion people, insane work ethic and love basketball and have good athletic facilities. They just need better coaches over there to train the kids up.

Brazil also is possible, huge population+good athletes with size and basketball is like 3rd most popular sport.

And if China becomes a super power, basketball will hopefully get more popular all over the world.

Already in the parks in london the courts are always full when the suns out, whereas two years ago they were usually empty and it was hard to find a game.

[FKAri]

USA national team is already as good as England's, and they invented the sport. We will be a football super power soon. (Say all you want about Rooney, better individual talent blah blah but fact is both Donavan and Dempsey are better than Rooney in terms of production in international football, and football is a team game)

In terms of basketball, I think China one day can become competitive with us. They have 1 billion people, insane work ethic and love basketball and have good athletic facilities. They just need better coaches over there to train the kids up.

Brazil also is possible, huge population+good athletes with size and basketball is like 3rd most popular sport.

And if China becomes a super power, basketball will hopefully get more popular all over the world.

Already in the parks in london the courts are always full when the suns out, whereas two years ago they were usually empty and it was hard to find a game.

:facepalm

[pauk]

Yes... as long as its not as boring as soccer

[Boston C's]

:facepalm

I dont agree with nickyoung much but hes right...england is highly overrated today

but as a soccer player I don't see the U.S being a powerhouse unless they get a striker that instills fear in the defense...thats a legit scoring threat...I don't think we have ever had a striker that was the caliber of players such didier drogba, wayne rooney, torres, etc....(Donavan and dempsey are midfielders)

[NYballin]

Basketball is ****ed, in my opinion, because you need so much special equipment to play it.
special equipment? all you need is a ball, a hoop and some decent sneakers.

[tmacattack33]

If all the best players still come to play in the NBA, and no competing league develops, then cool i'd be down for that.

But i'm good with where things are right now. The NBA is what I mainly watch and every 4 years the olympics come on and are cool to watch.

[Euroleague]

France and Spain absolutely do. The level of French basketball is steadily improving way down through the youth ranks, Spain has a few monsters that'll be lottery picks in the next few years and some good very young players already (Rubio, Mirotic, Ibaka, Claver), and Lithuania has an incredible generation of young players that'll be significantly better than their current team. Turkey's regularly turning out NBA prospects and have 3 promising second rounders that'll develop in Europe this season.

China and Brazil are producing some very nice young players in the coming years too.

The best international generations of players BY FAR (and I mean not even remotely close) are the ones from Croatia, Serbia, and Greece, especially Croatia and Greece.

Yet you didn't even mention them.

Croatia and Greece upcoming generations are considered the best ever in the history or Europe.

[SpanishACB]

Croatia and Greece upcoming generations are considered the best ever in the history or Europe.

by you and your parents who are also your siblings

[SilkkTheShocker]

Soccer blows

[get these NETS]

Same thing can be said about the best teams in soccer but no one has reigned like the U.S in basketball so I don't get your point and as for kobe/lebron/wade retiring we still have young players growing like kyrie, durant and more..


and coaches of top tier national soccer teams who don't make finals or quarter finals of the world cup get fired also....(or exiled)
the difference is even playing their best...Brazil can lose to Germany....or Italy can lose to Argentina...

playing close to their best basketball, and having literally the best players in the world .......and therefore being able to make ANY defensive or offensive adjustment...USA is not supposed to lose...period.

I know just enough about soccer to say that with authority...the top 4-6 national teams in the world can beat each other on any given day



As far as the second part... kobe,lebron, wade are cut from the same cloth as the dream team guys...alltime greats at their positions


next generation.....they might be the very best players in the league...but not necessarily alltime great players.....
alltime great players no matter how much better the rest of the world gets WILL NOT lose with halfway decent coaching

[bluechox2]

dont really give a shit if soccor is popular elsewhere,
just glad we get the best product to watch here

[Data1000]

The most important factor is population. Can you imagine every high school in a state competing in one class? If a high school with 600 students per grade destroys a high school with 50 students per grade in a game of basketball, should that give them pride?

Argentina has 40 million people. Spain has 47 million. The US? 312 million. The only other basketball-playing countries with large populations are Russia and China.

By the way, Greece, which beat the US team in 2006, has 11 million people. "Hoosiers" anyone?

The only other basketball-playing countries with large populations are Russia, Brazil, and China.

While upsets will happen from time to time, most nations do not have the population to regularly compete with the US in basketball.

[get these NETS]

The most important factor is population. Can you imagine every high school in a state competing in one class? If a high school with 600 students per grade destroys a high school with 50 students per grade in a game of basketball, should that give them pride?

Argentina has 40 million people. Spain has 47 million. The US? 312 million. The only other basketball-playing countries with large populations are Russia and China.

By the way, Greece, which beat the US team in 2006, has 11 million people. "Hoosiers" anyone?

The only other basketball-playing countries with large populations are Russia, Brazil, and China.

While upsets will happen from time to time, most nations do not have the population to regularly compete with the US in basketball.


entire thing makes NO sense

[Data1000]

entire thing makes NO sense

Ok, I'll explain it for you: US population --- BIG, Most other countries' populations --- small. In sports, Big number of people > Small number of people.

[AlonzoGOAT]

Ok, I'll explain it for you: US population --- BIG, Most other countries' populations --- small. In sports, Big number of people > Small number of people.

This and the U.S also has good youth development and of course Durant is one the way to become a all time great the way he is playing

[kurt_rambis]

Ok, I'll explain it for you: US population --- BIG, Most other countries' populations --- small. In sports, Big number of people > Small number of people.
that's not really true. if it were, india would be a huge sports power and the usa would always win the world cup. it's more about culture, organization, money, and number of people who care about the specific sport....it's not like comparing large schools to small schools

[get these NETS]

Ok, I'll explain it for you: US population --- BIG, Most other countries' populations --- small. In sports, Big number of people > Small number of people.


still doesn't make sense

unless you are talking about total medal count in Olympics or something..and USA and USSR use to always have highest totals for that reason

but in individual sporting events or competitions.....size of the country means nothing

Brazil doesn't dominate soccer just because it has a large population...




You're making excuses, chief......copping pleas.

[AlonzoGOAT]

that's not really true. if it were, india would be a huge sports power and the usa would always win the world cup. it's more about culture, organization, money, and number of people who care about the specific sport....it's not like comparing large schools to small schools

Are you a dumbass? We are talking about basketball not soccer but in that case look at Brazil huge country with soccer/futbol as their main sport with great youth development. Even now they are beating national teams with U23

[AlonzoGOAT]

still doesn't make sense

unless you are talking about total medal count in Olympics or something..and USA and USSR use to always have highest totals for that reason

but in individual sporting events or competitions.....size of the country means nothing

Brazil doesn't dominate soccer just because it has a large population...




You're making excuses, chief......copping pleas.

They don't but will always be an all time great in soccer and they are the GOATS

[kurt_rambis]

Are you a dumbass? We are talking about basketball not soccer but in that case look at Brazil huge country with soccer/futbol as their main sport with great youth development.
we're talking about competitiveness at sports in relation to population size. YOU NIMROD.

[get these NETS]

They don't but will always be an all time great in soccer and they are the GOATS


if you tell me what that has to do with the topic,I'll reply.

[godfather2007]

IMO, soccer will never be successful in the US because unlike basketball, baseball and football, it has only one 15 minute interval for commercials. and that's not something big companies would like to support.

[godfather2007]

Soccer blows

Also this.

[kurt_rambis]

IMO, soccer will never be successful in the US because unlike basketball, baseball and football, it has only one 15 minute interval for commercials. and that's not something big companies would like to support.
which is why they put advertisements on their uniforms, something a big 4 us sports league would nevOH WAIT

[get these NETS]

IMO, soccer will never be successful in the US because unlike basketball, baseball and football, it has only one 15 minute interval for commercials. and that's not something big companies would like to support.


hockey's rules are similar to soccer's. and while it's not a major sport...the nhl expansion of the 90s was fueled by it's (at the time) popularity.

there were pro hockey teams in cities that didn't even know what snow looked like

I agree that soccer will never blow up in this country, not even PELE playing in New York could make Americans care about soccer, but it's for a host of reasons.

[Walker]

USA national team is already as good as England's, and they invented the sport. We will be a football super power soon. (Say all you want about Rooney, better individual talent blah blah but fact is both Donavan and Dempsey are better than Rooney in terms of production in international football, and football is a team game)

You're kidding right? USA will never be a superpower in Soccer, their best athletes don't play Soccer and until they do it'll never happen.

England have some excellent players coming through now like Kyle Walker, Danny Welbeck, Martin Kelly, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Tom Cleverly the list goes on, all not even at their prime, already playing with and against the best talent in the world and already way better than anything the States has, and this is coming from someone who hates the UK.

The MLS is where old guys go for one more big paycheck before they die and any decent young guys coming out can only make it to substandard leagues or crappy top tier teams.

You're dreaming dude.

[get these NETS]

The MLS is where old guys go for one more big paycheck before they die and any decent young guys coming out can only make it to substandard leagues or crappy top tier teams.



correctomundo

the opposite is true in basketball..........cause lot of ex nba types squeeze that last big payoff from sports over in Europe before they hang it up..

[Lebron23]

Soccer is the 2nd most popular sports here. They need some marketing if they want to become a successful and popular sports in the US.

[Grinder]

England have some excellent players coming through now like Kyle Walker, Danny Welbeck, Martin Kelly, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Tom Cleverly the list goes on, all not even at their prime, already playing with and against the best talent in the world and already way better than anything the States has, and this is coming from someone who hates the UK.


None of those guys you mentioned are as good as Dempsey or Donovan.

[Lebron23]

You are a dumb ass.

:lol :lol :lol

[Euroleague]

correctomundo

the opposite is true in basketball..........cause lot of ex nba types squeeze that last big payoff from sports over in Europe before they hang it up..

Yes, 20-25 years ago.

But not in the current world.

[bd#1pguard]

USA national team is already as good as England's, and they invented the sport. We will be a football super power soon. (Say all you want about Rooney, better individual talent blah blah but fact is both Donavan and Dempsey are better than Rooney in terms of production in international football, and football is a team game)

In terms of basketball, I think China one day can become competitive with us. They have 1 billion people, insane work ethic and love basketball and have good athletic facilities. They just need better coaches over there to train the kids up.

Brazil also is possible, huge population+good athletes with size and basketball is like 3rd most popular sport.

And if China becomes a super power, basketball will hopefully get more popular all over the world.

Already in the parks in london the courts are always full when the suns out, whereas two years ago they were usually empty and it was hard to find a game.

this guy is retarded when it comes to gauging soccer

[get these NETS]

Yes, 20-25 years ago.

But not in the current world.

byron scott played on lakers in kobe's first year....i think...
then he played overseas

saw him in a few games back when the classic sports network was on...

during the lockout several players used the euro leagues to get quick cash and scrimmage against sub-nba talent...so i'm certain that there are at least 10 retired nba guys at any given time over there padding their wallets

[SyRyanYang]

lol hard@ some saying basketball being a rich man's sport. All you need is a ball and a hoop for chris's sake. And it is way easier to find a pick-up game or practicing by yourself than soccer. Soccer is popular 'cause the world has gone soft:(

[tmacattack33]

IMO, soccer will never be successful in the US because unlike basketball, baseball and football, it has only one 15 minute interval for commercials. and that's not something big companies would like to support.

Interesting.

But that (what the corporations thought of the game with respect to advertising) would come into play only after soccer was to ever gain enough fans to have good tv ratings in the US. And that hasn't happened yet...and it is all because of the game on the field.

So, what is it about soccer on the field that makes it boring to US fans?

- too slow...USA is a fast paced nation
- there's too many players in soccer and no one player can have a huge affect on the game...we here in the US like our super hero sports celebrities who can dominate games by themselves

[DKLaker]

Soccer is :sleeping :sleeping :sleeping :sleeping :sleeping :sleeping
I'd rather watch grass grow.

[InfiniteBaskets]

IMO, soccer will never be successful in the US because unlike basketball, baseball and football, it has only one 15 minute interval for commercials. and that's not something big companies would like to support.

There's also the advertisements that run for 90+ minutes per match on the backs and these players and throughout the arena barriers.

Big company's like Nike, Audi, Coke, VIVA, Barclay's have historically sponsored the game in the UK. The problem is with culture, it's simply not very big the US so our population isn't lined up to watch soccer games and as a result, advertisements don't do anything for sponsors here. Although US soccer is seemingly slowly trending upwards.

[Rondo]

lol hard@ some saying basketball being a rich man's sport. All you need is a ball and a hoop for chris's sake. And it is way easier to find a pick-up game or practicing by yourself than soccer. Soccer is popular 'cause the world has gone soft:(

They dive to gain an advantage, not because they or the sport is soft. Some of the broken legs you see are nasty. You could say basketball is soft considering you're penalised for farting on a guy when he's attacking the basket.

[Walker]

Interesting.

But that (what the corporations thought of the game with respect to advertising) would come into play only after soccer was to ever gain enough fans to have good tv ratings in the US. And that hasn't happened yet...and it is all because of the game on the field.

So, what is it about soccer on the field that makes it boring to US fans?

- too slow...USA is a fast paced nation
- there's too many players in soccer and no one player can have a huge affect on the game...we here in the US like our super hero sports celebrities who can dominate games by themselves
Baseball is far from fast, American Football, even though I love it, is slow as hell with all the cuts in action.

Umm, there's 11 players and 5 to 7 subs on each team dude, rosters are usually around 25. There's WAY more players on any Baseball or NFL team :roll:

[bdreason]

This thread is a train wreck.

[SpanishACB]

Brazil doesn't dominate soccer just because it has a large population...




Brazil dominates soccer? What?