Andrew Pace
Basketball is a popular sport in Europe, with varying levels of popularity across the continent. While association football is the most popular sport in almost all countries of Europe, basketball has a strong following in certain regions. For example, in Southern Europe, the Balkans, and the Baltic countries, basketball is a well-loved sport, with Lithuania and Latvia being mentioned as examples of countries where basketball is especially prominent. In contrast, countries like the Netherlands report low interest in the sport, with respondents noting that their national team and league are not very competitive. The sport's popularity may be influenced by factors such as the success of national teams and players, cultural dynamics, and the availability of outdoor spaces to play, with warmer countries potentially having an advantage in this regard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity compared to football | Basketball is less popular than football in Europe. |
| Popularity in specific countries/regions | Basketball is popular in Southern Europe, the Balkans, and Greece. It is the second most popular sport in Latvia and is very popular in Lithuania. In the UK, it is a common sport to play in urban areas. In the Netherlands, it is not popular. |
| Change in popularity over time | Basketball has become more popular in Western Europe over the last decade. In Greece, it became popular after the national team won the Eurobasket in 1987. |
| Reasons for popularity | The appeal of basketball uniforms may be a factor in the sport's popularity. |
| Reasons for less popularity | The sport may be less popular in Scandinavian countries due to a lack of outdoor spaces to play. |
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What You'll Learn
Basketball popularity in Southern Europe and the Balkans
Basketball is a sport with a growing fanbase in Europe. While football remains the most popular sport in Europe, basketball has a strong following in certain regions. Southern Europe and the Balkans are two such regions where basketball is especially popular.
In Southern Europe, basketball is popular in countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. In Greece, for example, basketball gained popularity after the national team won the Eurobasket in 1987. Today, the country has produced basketball stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, who inspires younger generations. In Turkey, Balkan immigrants and players have been credited with increasing the sport's popularity. One notable figure is Petar Naumoski from North Macedonia, who, along with Efes Pilsen, is said to have changed the perception of basketball in the country.
The Balkans, which include countries such as Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, have produced many talented basketball players over the years. The region has a strong interest in team sports, and basketball is particularly suited to the tall stature of people from the Balkans. The focus on teamwork, strategy, and smart play over athleticism has also been cited as a reason for the sport's popularity in the region.
While basketball is popular in Southern Europe and the Balkans, it varies in other parts of the continent. In Scandinavian countries, for instance, basketball is less prominent, with sports like football (soccer), ice hockey, and winter sports taking precedence. The Netherlands also reports a lack of interest in basketball, with a low-level national team and league. However, basketball is growing in the UK, especially in urban areas, and is the number two sport in Latvia.
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Lithuania's basketball popularity
Basketball is the most popular sport in Lithuania, with football occupying a secondary place. In a country with a population of under 3 million people, Lithuanians regularly describe basketball as their priority interest sport (43.8% in 2003, 53.4% in 2010). The popularity of the sport in Lithuania has led to it being nicknamed the "second religion".
Lithuania's introduction to basketball occurred during the interwar period between the First and Second World Wars. Lithuanian expatriates living in the United States, where basketball was thriving, fell in love with the game and decided to bring it back to their homeland. In 1921, Elena Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė brought James Naismith's basketball rules to Kaunas, Lithuania's temporary capital, and translated them into Lithuanian. Despite this early introduction, basketball's widespread popularity in Lithuania did not take off until the 1930s, as it was initially considered a women's sport.
In 1935, Lithuania hosted a World Lithuanian Congress in Kaunas, inviting ethnic Lithuanians from many countries to unite Lithuanian culture. A delegation of Lithuanian-American athletes from Chicago arrived in Kaunas as participants, and two of the players, Juozas "Joseph" Zukas and Konstantinas "Konnie" Savickus, stayed to teach basketball and be part of the national team. Savickus became a player-coach and, in 1936, Lithuania applied to become a member of FIBA and take part in international basketball competitions, including EuroBasket 1937, the second European basketball tournament.
In 1937, Lithuania unexpectedly won the EuroBasket Championship, beating Italy by one point. The popularity of basketball skyrocketed, and basketball courts and hoops constructed from metal barrels started to appear all around the country. As the gold medalists of EuroBasket, Lithuania was granted the right to organize the 1939 championship, and Europe's first dedicated basketball arena was built. The Lithuanian national team went on to win the 1939 championship as well.
The Lithuanians became the champions of Europe once again, with Talzūnas being picked as the tournament's most valuable player. Following the final victory over Italy, the famous Lithuanian tenor Kipras Petrauskas interrupted his performance at the State Theatre to joyfully announce the triumph of the national basketball team. The crowd then rose to their feet and sang the Lithuanian anthem. Basketball regained its ground, and its popularity rose abruptly, especially among students. Gymnasium teams from almost all counties competed in student games, and basketball courts appeared all around the country.
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Greece's basketball popularity
Basketball is a popular sport in Greece, with some even considering it the second most popular sport in the country. The sport was first introduced to Greece in the 1910s by American missionaries and was initially played only by American expatriates and Greeks who had studied in the US. However, it soon gained recognition across the country, especially among young people.
The Greece men's national basketball team has enjoyed several successes in international basketball, which has contributed to the sport's popularity in the country. Their first major success came in 1949 when they participated in their first FIBA European Championship (EuroBasket) and won the bronze medal. In 1959, Greece opened its first professional basketball indoor arena in Athens. However, the turning point for the sport's popularity came in 1987 when the men's national team won the EuroBasket tournament in Athens, defeating the Soviet Union 103-101 in the final. This victory sparked a new era for basketball in Greece, and the country has since become a powerhouse in international basketball.
Greece's basketball success continued into the 2000s, with the men's national team achieving notable results in the FIBA World Cup. In 2006, they reached the final of the tournament, earning a silver medal and defeating the odds-on favourite, the United States, in the semi-finals with a score of 101-95. This achievement further solidified the sport's popularity in Greece, and the players were greeted with enthusiasm by celebrating fans upon their return.
Some of the greatest European NBA players have come from Greece, including Giannis "Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo, who is considered an influential figure for the younger generations. Faidon Matthaiou is regarded as the father of Greek basketball, and other elite players like Nikos Galis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Panagiotis Fasoulas, and Fanis Christodoulou have also contributed to the country's basketball prowess.
While football remains the most popular and most-watched sport in Greece, basketball has undoubtedly gained significant traction, especially after the 1987 EuroBasket victory. The success of the national team and the emergence of talented Greek players on a global scale have played a crucial role in making basketball one of the most popular sports in the country.
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Basketball in the Netherlands
Basketball has been played in the Netherlands since the 1930s. The sport is growing in popularity, with more people playing and watching it. However, it still lags behind other sports in terms of popularity, and the national team and national league are considered low level.
At Tilburg University, basketball is taken seriously, with four men's teams and three ladies' teams enrolled in the regular Dutch basketball competition. The first men's team competes on a national level in the First Division, while the first ladies' team plays in the Second Division. The second men's team also competes nationally in the Second Division, and the remaining teams play regionally. There is also a team for beginners that does not compete but plays for fun. The student basketball association is TSBV Pendragon, which combines a serious attitude to the sport with a social side.
Basketball courts can be found in most parks and residential areas in the Netherlands, providing opportunities for people to play the sport casually.
The Netherlands' basketball teams have had some success in international competitions. In 2025, the country qualified for EuroBasket. In the 2027 World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers Group F, the Netherlands claimed their first win, beating Austria 65-64.
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Basketball in the UK
Basketball is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, with over 1.5 million people playing it weekly. It is the second most popular team sport in the UK, with football being the most popular. Basketball in England is led by Basketball England, and there are similar organizations in other parts of the UK, including Basketball Wales, basketballscotland, and Basketball Northern Ireland.
The sport was introduced to England by the YMCA almost immediately after it was invented in 1891 in Massachusetts. The arrival of American forces in Europe during World War I further influenced the growth of basketball in the UK. The game was first introduced in England between March 1892 and January 1893 by the president of Birkenhead YMCA, C.J. Proctor, who had observed the game during a business trip to Canada. This led to a growth in participation in basketball, initially as an internal league played at Birkenhead YMCA. Within a few months, teams had sprung up in the district, playing one another in friendly matches. The American rules were found to be too complicated, and the Birmingham teams compiled a more practical set of rules. In 1918, an American YMCA Physical Director influenced the District Associations in England, and the local rules were altered slightly to make the game more similar to the American version.
The elite tier of basketball in England is the fully professional Super League Basketball, featuring teams from England and Scotland. The semi-professional National Basketball League Division 1 forms the second tier. Basketball is commonly played in schools in the UK, and there are over 1,198,900 under-16s playing basketball in England on a weekly basis.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball is popular in Europe, especially in Southern Europe and the Balkans. However, association football is the most popular sport in almost all countries in Europe.
Basketball is the second most popular sport in some European countries, such as Latvia. In others, it is less popular than sports like American football, rugby, and F1.
Basketball is less popular in Europe than in the US, where the NBA is based. However, the Euroleague is very underrated compared to the NBA.
Basketball is slowly growing in popularity in Europe, with more people playing and watching the sport. However, it is still less popular than football.
