September 20, 2024
Have you explored all our NBA Courtside Chronicles yet?
Swish, ballin’, another three-pointer? For Michael Jordan, that was just a regular day, but what about you? Our NBA Courtside Chronicles series is slowly but surely coming to an end. We’ve covered the history, legendary players, rules, and even how NBA betting works. So, for our final installment, we decided to dive into the NBA’s overall global influence beyond the USA.
Initially, the NBA was mostly home to American players, but over time, it started welcoming talent from all over the globe. This, in a way, began to amplify its global influence as players brought fan bases from their home countries.
One of the biggest European stars in NBA history is definitely Dirk Nowitzki from Germany. He spent his career with the Dallas Mavericks, leading them to a championship in 2011.
Another amazing international player is Hakeem Olajuwon from Nigeria, one of the best centers in history. With the Houston Rockets, he won two championships and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Talking about the current NBA, top international players include Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece (with Nigerian roots) and Luka Dončić from Slovenia. There are plenty of great international players in NBA history.
The NBA Global Games is an initiative that brings preseason and regular-season games to international destinations worldwide. Launched to spread awareness of the American basketball competition across all continents, this year, for example, saw a game on January 11 in Paris between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA Global Games have taken place in countries like China, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Germany, and the UK.
The NBA has also had a tremendous impact on fashion, music, and attitudes. Jordan Brand, known today by virtually everyone, even those who aren’t basketball fans, is a prime example. Founded in 1984 when Michael Jordan signed with Nike, the Air Jordan 1 sneakers were born. Since then, everyone wanted to own at least one pair of Jordans.
Air Jordan is a perfect example of how the NBA and its players can have a lasting impact on fashion and culture. But the question remains if anyone else can achieve this level of influence as Michael Jordan has.
If you’ve fallen in love with the basketball just like we have at ChampionBet, we recommend following the ongoing 78th season, currently led by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference and the Los Angeles Clippers in the West. Keep an eye on our blog to stay in the loop!
