Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

[robert76]

Thought this was interesting:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29495048/lebron-james-rookie-card-goes-record-18m-auction

So LeBron James card sells for 1.8M, and that's kind of nuts. Interesting that the card companies have found a way to stay relevant in this day and age by creating these super rare sets of cards. I don't know how they're distributed normally, if they are just in packs and people get lucky? Either way, seems crazy.

Anyway, what made me think the story is interesting is this:

"At the present time, I would say that basketball in some cases is stronger than baseball and in other cases is neck-and-neck with baseball," Goldin said. "I have a tremendous amount of overseas bidders from China; we've had bidders from the Middle East, bidders from Australia and from Europe. With baseball, it's completely North American; it's 99% from North America. With basketball, it could be as much as 50 to 60% overseas bidding because it's more of a worldwide sport.

It kind of shows how the NBA's global strategy is working to make massive growth. I think they're really the only US based league to pull this off. I'm sure the Champions league in soccer has done this, and given how much indy car drivers make, I wonder if Indy car racing has great global popularity as well.

Either way, I just found it kind of interesting how it shows basketball relative to baseball.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but Europe doesn't care about Indy, the most popular car racing sport here is by far Formula 1.

[dougthonus]

Thought this was interesting:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29495048/lebron-james-rookie-card-goes-record-18m-auction

So LeBron James card sells for 1.8M, and that's kind of nuts. Interesting that the card companies have found a way to stay relevant in this day and age by creating these super rare sets of cards. I don't know how they're distributed normally, if they are just in packs and people get lucky? Either way, seems crazy.

Anyway, what made me think the story is interesting is this:

"At the present time, I would say that basketball in some cases is stronger than baseball and in other cases is neck-and-neck with baseball," Goldin said. "I have a tremendous amount of overseas bidders from China; we've had bidders from the Middle East, bidders from Australia and from Europe. With baseball, it's completely North American; it's 99% from North America. With basketball, it could be as much as 50 to 60% overseas bidding because it's more of a worldwide sport.

It kind of shows how the NBA's global strategy is working to make massive growth. I think they're really the only US based league to pull this off. I'm sure the Champions league in soccer has done this, and given how much indy car drivers make, I wonder if Indy car racing has great global popularity as well.

Either way, I just found it kind of interesting how it shows basketball relative to baseball.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but Europe doesn't care about Indy, the most popular car racing sport here is by far Formula 1.

I meant formula 1. I just know so little about car racing that I got them confused

[MrFortune3]

Id like to see Zion but the blazers are the better team when healthy and no rook is going to upset the lakers.

I just wanna see Zion in the playoffs and what he can do as a rookie.

[samwana]

Thought this was interesting:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29495048/lebron-james-rookie-card-goes-record-18m-auction

So LeBron James card sells for 1.8M, and that's kind of nuts. Interesting that the card companies have found a way to stay relevant in this day and age by creating these super rare sets of cards. I don't know how they're distributed normally, if they are just in packs and people get lucky? Either way, seems crazy.

Anyway, what made me think the story is interesting is this:

"At the present time, I would say that basketball in some cases is stronger than baseball and in other cases is neck-and-neck with baseball," Goldin said. "I have a tremendous amount of overseas bidders from China; we've had bidders from the Middle East, bidders from Australia and from Europe. With baseball, it's completely North American; it's 99% from North America. With basketball, it could be as much as 50 to 60% overseas bidding because it's more of a worldwide sport.

It kind of shows how the NBA's global strategy is working to make massive growth. I think they're really the only US based league to pull this off. I'm sure the Champions league in soccer has done this, and given how much indy car drivers make, I wonder if Indy car racing has great global popularity as well.

Either way, I just found it kind of interesting how it shows basketball relative to baseball.

There is no real interest in baseball in Europe. Most think it's boring. Football too, except for the super bowl, there is a little hype about that game here too..

Sent from my POT-LX1 using RealGM mobile app

[DanChee33]

Thought this was interesting:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29495048/lebron-james-rookie-card-goes-record-18m-auction

So LeBron James card sells for 1.8M, and that's kind of nuts. Interesting that the card companies have found a way to stay relevant in this day and age by creating these super rare sets of cards. I don't know how they're distributed normally, if they are just in packs and people get lucky? Either way, seems crazy.

Anyway, what made me think the story is interesting is this:

"At the present time, I would say that basketball in some cases is stronger than baseball and in other cases is neck-and-neck with baseball," Goldin said. "I have a tremendous amount of overseas bidders from China; we've had bidders from the Middle East, bidders from Australia and from Europe. With baseball, it's completely North American; it's 99% from North America. With basketball, it could be as much as 50 to 60% overseas bidding because it's more of a worldwide sport.

It kind of shows how the NBA's global strategy is working to make massive growth. I think they're really the only US based league to pull this off. I'm sure the Champions league in soccer has done this, and given how much indy car drivers make, I wonder if Indy car racing has great global popularity as well.

Either way, I just found it kind of interesting how it shows basketball relative to baseball.

There is no real interest in baseball in Europe. Most think it's boring. Football too, except for the super bowl, there is a little hype about that game here too..

Sent from my POT-LX1 using RealGM mobile app

Yep. In Europe, we don't even know the basic rules of baseball. Same with football.

[dougthonus]

There is no real interest in baseball in Europe. Most think it's boring. Football too, except for the super bowl, there is a little hype about that game here too..

I agree, and the NBA may have had more of a headstart in terms of basketball, since basketball was already established in Europe with pro leagues and has grown in popularity, but if you look at China, where the NBA has grown roots, there really wasn't a deep basketball tradition there at all until the NBA grew it. The NFL or MLB may have been able to do the same thing if they tried, but they haven't really put in the work to do so.

[MrFortune3]

There is no real interest in baseball in Europe. Most think it's boring. Football too, except for the super bowl, there is a little hype about that game here too..

I agree, and the NBA may have had more of a headstart in terms of basketball, since basketball was already established in Europe with pro leagues and has grown in popularity, but if you look at China, where the NBA has grown roots, there really wasn't a deep basketball tradition there at all until the NBA grew it. The NFL or MLB may have been able to do the same thing if they tried, but they haven't really put in the work to do so.

NFL and MLB is a little different though. NBA you can pick up a ball and just start playing and mimicking your favorite players, eventually the expansion of the league into those countries could help you get to an academy or etc for training. Same for Futbol/Soccer

NFL and MLB take a lot of training from the floor up and it's more expensive and potentially time consuming to train for given the resources required vs sports that are already in vogue in their respective countries.

[dougthonus]

NFL and MLB is a little different though. NBA you can pick up a ball and just start playing and mimicking your favorite players, eventually the expansion of the league into those countries could help you get to an academy or etc for training. Same for Futbol/Soccer

NFL and MLB take a lot of training from the floor up and it's more expensive and potentially time consuming to train for given the resources required vs sports that are already in vogue in their respective countries.

I don't see how American football requires anything that soccer doesn't. Same general space requirements and a ball. I'm sure most boys in the US played a ton of makeshift football at recess in school with just a ball and nothing else. I know I did. I'm not sure baseball is so different either in terms of equipment / space needed. You need a bat and a ball is about enough for little kids to get going.

There are variants of both sports where people can play competitive games with four people and skills practice with two.

In some ways, basketball actually requires more than football, soccer, or baseball, in that you actually need a structure that you can't easily bring with you (the hoop). You can set up cones for a net for soccer, anything for bases for baseball, and really just need markers for first downs/end zones for football and can bring just a ball. You can easily set up those games in a street or backyard with nothing.

[League Circles]

NFL and MLB is a little different though. NBA you can pick up a ball and just start playing and mimicking your favorite players, eventually the expansion of the league into those countries could help you get to an academy or etc for training. Same for Futbol/Soccer

NFL and MLB take a lot of training from the floor up and it's more expensive and potentially time consuming to train for given the resources required vs sports that are already in vogue in their respective countries.

I don't see how American football requires anything that soccer doesn't. Same general space requirements and a ball. I'm sure most boys in the US played a ton of makeshift football at recess in school with just a ball and nothing else. I know I did. I'm not sure baseball is so different either in terms of equipment / space needed. You need a bat and a ball is about enough for little kids to get going.

There are variants of both sports where people can play competitive games with four people and skills practice with two.

In some ways, basketball actually requires more than football, soccer, or baseball, in that you actually need a structure that you can't easily bring with you (the hoop). You can set up cones for a net for soccer, anything for bases for baseball, and really just need markers for first downs/end zones for football and can bring just a ball. You can easily set up those games in a street or backyard with nothing.

It's the equipment. It's really not football without tackling and blocking drills, especially for youth.

[dougthonus]

It's the equipment. It's really not football without tackling and blocking drills, especially for youth.

I think for growing an interest you don't need to play tackle. I loved playing touch football as a youth. Though fair point that as soon as you have organized leagues the costs go way up.

[League Circles]

It's the equipment. It's really not football without tackling and blocking drills, especially for youth.

I think for growing an interest you don't need to play tackle. I loved playing touch football as a youth. Though fair point that as soon as you have organized leagues the costs go way up.

I think touch football is widely popular here only because it is deemed the safe alternative to actual football that everyone can play to emulate NFL among kids. Basically I think the NFL drives the popularity of touch football, not the other way around, in the way that playground basketball could drive nba popularity.

There are other issues as well. Most people, especially in the so called developing world, probably play their first "basketball games" with a soccer ball, or a volley ball, etc. You can use a lot of things for a hoop at first. This allows really young kids the ability to approximate real bball much more closely than anyone can approximate real football. Because you really need an actual football (not just any decent sized round ball), and you need someone to be able to throw it half decently, which is rare until kids are older. By the time they can get an actual football at all, and be able to throw it decently, they are likely to already have several years of physical familiarity with something like soccer or basketball. Those sports are just easier and simpler to approximate the experience of playing the real thing when you have no skills and no unique equipment. Baseball for example requires a lot of room to not break windows, a unique ball, a bat, gloves etc.

Baseball and football were huge favorites of mine as a kid but I didn't start playing either one competitively until several years after I played soccer and bball competitively, and that's here in the US where football and baseball at the time were way more popular than soccer and bball.

[dougthonus]

It's the equipment. It's really not football without tackling and blocking drills, especially for youth.

I think for growing an interest you don't need to play tackle. I loved playing touch football as a youth. Though fair point that as soon as you have organized leagues the costs go way up.

I think touch football is widely popular here only because it is deemed the safe alternative to actual football that everyone can play to emulate NFL among kids. Basically I think the NFL drives the popularity of touch football, not the other way around, in the way that playground basketball could drive nba popularity.

There are other issues as well. Most people, especially in the so called developing world, probably play their first "basketball games" with a soccer ball, or a volley ball, etc. You can use a lot of things for a hoop at first. This allows really young kids the ability to approximate real bball much more closely than anyone can approximate real football. Because you really need an actual football (not just any decent sized round ball), and you need someone to be able to throw it half decently, which is rare until kids are older. By the time they can get an actual football at all, and be able to throw it decently, they are likely to already have several years of physical familiarity with something like soccer or basketball. Those sports are just easier and simpler to approximate the experience of playing the real thing when you have no skills and no unique equipment. Baseball for example requires a lot of room to not break windows, a unique ball, a bat, gloves etc.

Baseball and football were huge favorites of mine as a kid but I didn't start playing either one competitively until several years after I played soccer and bball competitively, and that's here in the US where football and baseball at the time were way more popular than soccer and bball.

Good point about the ball being fairly fungible with some other sports and not football. I think touch football vs tackle is just chicken and egg. If people are interested in something they find ways to emulate it. Though, you still need lots of hoops to get basketball going whether you use a soccer ball or something else.

You actually can play a version of football with a tennis ball or baseball (and I know I did that too) growing up. Again, isn't exactly teh same, but not a whole lot different than playing basketball with a volleyball really.

[Leslie Forman]

I don't see how American football requires anything that soccer doesn't.

I mean, there's a game that is actually even easier to play logistically that's not that different from football - rugby. The rest of the world prefers rugby way more. Football doesn't have a chance as long as that exists.

[Repeat 3-peat]

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The Jordan logo will be on every teams 'statement' jersey.

[samwana]

I think for growing an interest you don't need to play tackle. I loved playing touch football as a youth. Though fair point that as soon as you have organized leagues the costs go way up.

I think touch football is widely popular here only because it is deemed the safe alternative to actual football that everyone can play to emulate NFL among kids. Basically I think the NFL drives the popularity of touch football, not the other way around, in the way that playground basketball could drive nba popularity.

There are other issues as well. Most people, especially in the so called developing world, probably play their first "basketball games" with a soccer ball, or a volley ball, etc. You can use a lot of things for a hoop at first. This allows really young kids the ability to approximate real bball much more closely than anyone can approximate real football. Because you really need an actual football (not just any decent sized round ball), and you need someone to be able to throw it half decently, which is rare until kids are older. By the time they can get an actual football at all, and be able to throw it decently, they are likely to already have several years of physical familiarity with something like soccer or basketball. Those sports are just easier and simpler to approximate the experience of playing the real thing when you have no skills and no unique equipment. Baseball for example requires a lot of room to not break windows, a unique ball, a bat, gloves etc.

Baseball and football were huge favorites of mine as a kid but I didn't start playing either one competitively until several years after I played soccer and bball competitively, and that's here in the US where football and baseball at the time were way more popular than soccer and bball.

Good point about the ball being fairly fungible with some other sports and not football. I think touch football vs tackle is just chicken and egg. If people are interested in something they find ways to emulate it. Though, you still need lots of hoops to get basketball going whether you use a soccer ball or something else.

You actually can play a version of football with a tennis ball or baseball (and I know I did that too) growing up. Again, isn't exactly teh same, but not a whole lot different than playing basketball with a volleyball really.

In Germany there is not much possibility to play basketball outside, there are not much basketball courts around to just go and play. It's still way more popular than baseball and football.
I think you can play baseball easily if you want, I know we did a kind of similar game in school in the Netherlands and also played softball. There is a little more interest in different sports in the Netherlands than in Germany, because all you see in Germany is soccer soccer soccer sucker...
Volleyball ist pretty popular here in Germany and in the Netherlands, beach volley especially is played a lot even though you need equipment here too.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Wow I am watching the NBA restart, and it feels like I am watching the G league or some foreign league.

Its going to be completely different watching these games.

[Andi Obst]

That Nuggets starting 5 is pure comedy.

[DASMACKDOWN]

I aint gonna lie, this is hard for me so far.

[Andi Obst]

I aint gonna lie, this is hard for me so far.

The players are rusty and the quality of play is pretty terrible, but I like the setup. It feels weird right now, but I think I'll get used to it pretty quickly.

Bol Bol is the highlight of the day so far.

[DASMACKDOWN]

I aint gonna lie, this is hard for me so far.

The players are rusty and the quality of play is pretty terrible, but I like the setup. It feels weird right now, but I think I'll get used to it pretty quickly.

Bol Bol is the highlight of the day so far.

Yeah its early but I feel like we are watching the games without a soul. If you get what I mean.