Unlike in the Euroleague, in the NBA almost all of the 30 teams have an operating profit, with 25 out of the 30 teams not losing money. The New York Knicks lead the way with a annual profit of about $96 million.
David Stern, the former NBA commissioner, helped grow the NBA into a world-wide powerhouse in his 30 year tenure with the NBA. If it weren't for the NBA's growth, Euroleague would not be anywhere close to the level it is at today.
The NBA drives the basketball landscape all over the world, and with the interest in basketball growing so immensely in the United States, it has caused a growth in Europe.
The past NBA season was the most successful in a business standpoint, with an average of $23.7 million operating income across the board.
For a more intensive look into the money making machine that is the NBA, check out this article in Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2014/01/22/as-stern-says-goodbye-knicks-lakers-set-records-as-nbas-most-valuable-teams/
Question: Do you think if the NBA was not as successful as it is, that the Euroleague would be growing at the rate that it is? Does the NBA have a major impact on the goings on over in Europe and around the basketball world?
Dr. Chris O'Hanlon
-Avid Sports Blogger and Amateur Magician
I don't think that Euroleague would be growing as it is now if the NBA hadn't been so successful. The NBA basically paved the way for the opportunity for people to become interested in basketball, both in the United States and internationally. It is difficult for a sport to gain a significant amount of recognition in Europe because of soccer, but I feel that Euroleague has done a pretty good job so far.
ReplyDelete-Jeremy Martin
I also do not think the Euroleague would not be performing as well if it wasn't for the NBA. NBA players are well known across the world, and with many players such as Ricky Rubio, Serge Ibaka, and the Gasol brothers making major impacts in the NBA, who all played in the Euroleague first, it has helped the Euroleague gain many supporters. If the NBA's growth continues and the Euroleague continues to produce good NBA players, I believe the growth for the Euroleague could be endless.
ReplyDeleteEven if the Euroleague continues to grow, I don't think it will even come close to the NBA. Only a very small portion of Euroleague players make it in the NBA and I think basketball fans around the globe realize that the best players in the world play in the NBA. Obviously players like Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio are popular here in Spain, but I think I have seen more LeBron James jerseys than both of them combined. Euroleague also faces the issue of directly competing with soccer in Europe and it will always come in second. Although the US has the NFL and the MLB, the NBA does not directly compete with them and has its fair share of the fan market.
ReplyDelete-Alex Salinas
I agree with everyone above in that I believe that Euroleague would not be where it is now without the NBA. The NBA is known across the world, with people in Europe and other countries sporting Miami Heat and New York Knicks jerseys. I believe that many Europeans now somewhat follow and are aware of the NBA and realize the level of play is extremely high, much higher than can be seen in a Euroleague game. I think it will be very hard for the Euroleague to have as much worldwide attention as the NBA, partially because the NBA was the first to establish themselves as the leader in the basketball world.
ReplyDeleteThe Euroleague definitely relies on the NBA. The NBA is the best basketball league in the world. Hundreds of college and amatuer players dream of making it to the NBA but unfortunately do not make it. The Euroleauge has become a popular destination for college players that go undrafted. Here in Spain, I see signs of the NBA. Kids in my building have Lebron James, Chris Paul and Michael Jordan jerseys. With interest in basketball increasing, Europeans will find it easier to follow the Euroleague versus the NBA thus increasing the popularity of Euroleague. Euroleague is definitely riding on the tail of the NBA and benefits from the NBA.
ReplyDelete-Nick Cevallos
I agree that the without the path that the NBA paved for basketball, the Euroleague would not be as successful as it is today. However, do you think if the NBA wasn’t such a large presence, then Euroleague would be able to shine more? With the NBA dominating the United States and followed by some in Europe, does it really do that much good for Euroleague to be able to prosper? I personally think with the timing of the sport being at the same time as football, it does not do itself any good in Spain and will probably always come second to football.
ReplyDelete-Theresa Neri