Kristian Ferrell
Basketball is a sport with a massive global following. With 2.2 billion fans worldwide, it is the third most popular sport globally, and its popularity is growing. Basketball is especially popular in the Philippines, China, the US, Serbia, Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, France, Indonesia, and Spain. Basketball is also growing in popularity in Germany, Great Britain, and the UAE. The sport's ability to unite people from different backgrounds and bring them together through a shared passion is truly remarkable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of basketball fans worldwide | 2.2 billion |
| Number of basketball players worldwide | 250 million |
| Countries where basketball is the most popular sport | Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Philippines, China, Serbia, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, Canada, France |
| Countries with the most basketball-loving population | Serbia, Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, Philippines |
| Countries with the highest interest in FIBA Basketball World Cup | Indonesia, Philippines, China, UAE, Spain, Germany, Great Britain |
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What You'll Learn
Basketball popularity in the Philippines
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, played by almost everyone from amateur to professional levels. The sport was introduced to the Philippines during the American colonial period in the 1910s, when American teachers began teaching it in the public school system, initially just for girls. The Philippines became a member of FIBA through the Basketball Association of the Philippines in 1936 and made their Olympic debut in the same year, finishing fifth—the best result of any Asian team in Olympic basketball history. The Philippines also hosted the FIBA World Championship in 1978, the first time the tournament was held in Asia.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was inaugurated in 1975 and is the first professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA. The league's regulations are a hybrid of rules from FIBA and the NBA. The Philippines has also produced some notable basketball players, including Filipino-American Jordan Clarkson, who played for the Philippines Men's National Team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and currently plays for the Utah Jazz.
Basketball is a national obsession in the Philippines, alongside boxing and beauty pageants. The sport is played everywhere, from community-built courts in Manila to rooftops of tenement housing. The NBA has seen record engagement and growth across social and digital media in the Philippines, with a record 923 million engagements across the league's localized social media accounts in the country during the 2022-23 season. The NBA has also hosted events in the Philippines, such as the first-ever WNBA All-Star viewing party and "Her Time To Play Open Runs," which provided more than 140 girls with the opportunity to play basketball for free.
The popularity of basketball in the Philippines has led to unique cultural expressions, such as a statue of Jesus Christ wearing a Golden State Warriors jersey and boys carrying makeshift basketball rims while playing with friends. The sport has also been a source of national pride, with the Philippine team dominating the Asian Games until 1962 and winning the bronze medal in the 1954 FIBA World Championship, the best finish by an Asian country in the World Cup.
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Basketball in China
Basketball was introduced to China in 1895 by the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), only four years after the first game of basketball was played at Spring Field College in Massachusetts, USA. The sport spread quickly across China due to its minimal resource requirements, and by 1910, basketball was featured in the National Games. In 1935, basketball was voted by Chinese citizens to be one of the two national sports, alongside ping pong.
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), founded in 1956, is the country's first-tier men's professional basketball league. The CBA should not be confused with the National Basketball League (NBL), a professional minor league. There is also a Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). The CBA began play in the 1995-96 season, and the Zhejiang Squirrels featured the first non-Chinese player, Mihail Savinkov of Uzbekistan. In the early 1990s, a poll of Chinese schoolchildren found Michael Jordan to be the most famous person in China after Premier Zhou Enlai.
In the 1950s, China began sending teams to compete against other socialist nations, and by the 1970s, Chinese teams were travelling to the United States post-ping pong diplomacy. China's women's team won their first Olympic medal in basketball in 1984 in Los Angeles, defeating Canada for the bronze. The sport's popularity continued to grow with the emergence of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the success of Chinese players like Yao Ming, who became a hall-of-fame player in the US. In 1979, the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) were the first NBA team to play in China, participating in two exhibition games. In the 1980s, Chinese state media began televising NBA games, marking the country's first official exposure to the NBA during the peak of players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
However, in 2019, tensions arose between the NBA and China when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of the Hong Kong protests, leading to the suspension of NBA games on Chinese state media. As of 2021, the relationship between the NBA and China is being mended, with NBA games being broadcast again on CCTV networks.
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Basketball in the US
Basketball is a vital part of the cultural and economic landscape of the US. The sport was created in the US by a Canadian, James Naismith, in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the Basketball Hall of Fame is located. The United States men's national basketball team, commonly known as Team USA, is the most successful men's team in international competition, winning medals in all twenty Olympic tournaments it has entered, including sixteen golds. The team is currently ranked first in the FIBA World Rankings.
The US dominated the first decades of international basketball, winning a record seven consecutive Olympic gold medals. This streak was achieved by fielding teams composed of amateurs who would later go on to become professional basketball superstars. Some of these players include all-time greats Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Jerry Lucas.
However, by the end of the 1980s, these amateurs faced challenges against seasoned professionals from countries like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. In response, FIBA modified its rules in 1989 to allow USA Basketball to include National Basketball Association (NBA) players. The first such team, the "Dream Team", won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, marking the beginning of a second run of dominance for the US in the 1990s.
Despite some setbacks in the early 2000s, Team USA initiated a long-term project to create better, more cohesive teams, leading to a string of victories in the late 2000s and early 2010s. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, the team, led by coach Mike Krzyzewski, won its 15th gold medal, making him the most decorated coach in USA Basketball history. Team USA continued its winning streak, securing gold at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Basketball in Serbia
Basketball is a popular sport in Serbia, with the country producing several key basketball players, coaches, executives, and referees over the years. The country's national basketball team has achieved notable success, winning seven medals between 1995 and 2002, including back-to-back World Championships in 1998 and 2002, and three Eurobaskets in 1995, 1997, and 2001. The team also won silver at the 1996 Olympics and bronze at the 1999 Eurobasket. This success has continued into the 21st century with notable players such as Miloš Teodosić, Nemanja Bjelica, Vasilije Micić, and Nikola Jokić, who has won the NBA MVP award three times.
Serbia has had a profound impact on the development of basketball in Europe and the world. The country has produced several influential figures in the sport, including four of the "Fathers of Yugoslav basketball," who received the FIBA Order of Merit: Nebojša Popović, Radomir Šaper, Aleksandar Nikolić, and Borislav Stanković. The latter played a crucial role in bridging the conflict between the NBA and FIBA, allowing NBA players to participate in the Olympics and paving the way for the globalisation of the sport.
The Basketball Federation of Serbia is the national governing body for basketball in the country. It is a non-profit organisation that represents Serbia in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the Olympic Committee of Serbia. The Federation traditionally selects the Serbian Basketball Player of the Year and is managed by a board of representatives, half of whom are appointed by the President, while the remaining four are elected by the Federation Assembly.
Basketball Serbia, a private company based in Belgrade, also plays a significant role in promoting and developing the sport in the country. The company organises international tournaments for all age categories, collaborating with top clubs from Serbia and other countries, including Italy, Spain, Greece, and the USA. These tournaments provide young players with opportunities to compete against the best clubs in the world, showcase their talent, and gain experience in a professional basketball environment.
Serbia's impact on basketball extends beyond its borders, with Serbian players, coaches, and administrators influencing the sport's development globally. The country's representation in basketball's hall of fames is impressive, with 16 members in the FIBA Hall of Fame, second only to the USA, and five members in the Naismith’s Hall of Fame. Serbian players and coaches have left a lasting legacy in the sport, both within their country and worldwide.
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Basketball in Lithuania
Basketball is the most popular sport in Lithuania, with nearly 41% of the population watching the EuroBasket 2015 final between Lithuania and Spain. This made it the most-watched event of the 21st century in Lithuania. The Lithuanians regularly describe basketball as their priority interest sport, with 43.8% of the population agreeing in 2003, and 53.4% in 2010. The popularity of the sport in Lithuania has led to it being nicknamed the "second religion".
Basketball was first introduced to Lithuania through a variation of netball brought by the Germans. It was first played by women in 1919, and in public by women in 1920-1921. The first official game was played by men on 23 April 1922, between the Lietuvos Fizinio Lavinimo Sąjunga and a Kaunas team, with the former winning 8-6. The match was well-received by spectators and the press. However, basketball's popularity was delayed until the 1930s as it was considered a woman's sport. The first basketball rules in Lithuania were published by pilot Steponas Darius in 1926.
The Lithuanian men's national basketball team has enjoyed success in international competitions. They won the EuroBasket tournaments in 1937 and 1939, and the team was coached by Frank Lubin, who is regarded as the "grandfather of Lithuanian basketball". The team has also defeated the United States men's national team three times in major international tournaments, including the 2004 Olympic Games. The Lithuanian women's national team has not achieved the same level of success as their male counterparts, although they did win a title at EuroBasket Women 1997.
At the club level, Žalgiris of Kaunas has won notable tournaments such as the EuroLeague in 1999 and the FIBA Saporta Cup in 1998. BC Lietuvos Rytas of Vilnius has also found success, winning the EuroCup twice, in 2005 and 2009.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines, with a population of 120 million.
While it is hard to find exact numbers, sources suggest that Lithuania, Serbia, Greece, and Turkey are among the most basketball-loving countries in Europe.
China has the biggest basketball market by population, with around 300 million people participating in some way.
Basketball is very popular in the US, with some sources claiming it to be the most popular sport in the country. However, one source suggests that basketball merchandise is not as common as one might expect.
Yes, basketball is king in the Philippines, Lithuania, Latvia, and the Philippines, while football is not a close second.
