I still don't know why it's NBA "World" champions

[campybatman]

That is to say, to me, it should read: NBA xxxx Champions. Meaning that this championship team hasn't played every professional basketball team in the world, hence the necessity to be more specific to satisfy what makes logical sense. I never understood why it doesn't read as such. They can only play those playoff teams in their own league. Is this a sign of US arrogance or being self-centered? That is, suggesting that American professional sports are at the center of the sports world. I'm grabbing for straws, but I'm trying to find the logic here.

Yes, there are a growing number of foreign players making a name for themselves and sticking with teams in the league. But, somehow I still don't have the impression that a NBA team has played another country's best unless during the Olympics which is an entirely different topic. Because a gold medal winning Olympics team could rightfully so boast of being the best basketball team in the world until the next competition. Then that distinction could change hands.

I always have wondered this but never really thought to search out an answer online thinking I wouldn't find a concrete reason.

I'm searching around and looks like Euro basketball uses "World" in some of their tournament names as well. Now I really don't get it. All of these teams across the globe (or where ever professional basketball exist) haven't competed against everyone on the planet.

I could be reading it too literally. But, how can you not? It says, world... As in, in the world.

[SonicYouth34]

I never got the world part in all our American sports titles.

[Dave_From_NB]

At least it's better than baseball, with their "World Series Champions", operating on the assumption I suppose that they think there are no other sports in the world, let alone other baseball leagues and teams.

[GreenGrizz]

Well, in boxing, the Russians had to come over here and take it away from us. I suggest they try same with NBA.

[TheSheriff]

At least it's better than baseball, with their "World Series Champions", operating on the assumption I suppose that they think there are no other sports in the world, let alone other baseball leagues and teams.

Because when the first World Series was held there were no other Professional American to speak of (no basketball, football was still a college game, ect...)

[sully00]

Not for nothing but if I have something that is 50 to 100 years old why they hell would I change the name of it because someone else bothered to catch on 50 years later. There wouldn't be any basketball anywhere else in the "world" if it wasn't for the NBA.

Beyond that the College sports which are older than the pro leagues already called themselves the national champions, can't copy them and you have to sound bigger if you are the pros right?

[celticfan42487]

I don't know why anyone would think it would be named anything else.

[campybatman]

Okay, this hits on some of the points I'd brought up. Still, I prefer referring to the Celtics this season as the defending NBA champions or the national defending champions like in NCAA.

Wait. A thought just occurred to me. Didn't Garnett proclaim after game six that he's now on the "top of the world?" How ironic of a statement. I know that's a figure of speech. But, it's funny to say it as I comment on this topic.

Criticism

Controversially, the NBA Finals are sometimes[3] regarded by league officials and U.S. media as a "World Championship," despite the fact that only teams from the US compete except for one team from Canada. This issue has become notable since USA national teams have not won official worldwide basketball competitions like the 2004 Olympics and the 2002 and 2006 FIBA World Championships, and have even finished as low as sixth place.

Although some players from opponent international teams actually play in the NBA, teams with no NBA players—such as Greece and Italy—have won against NBA-based USA teams. From 1992 to 1996, the first four years of NBA players participating in USA Basketball at worldwide tournaments, these national teams dominated every opponent.

However, NBA teams won all nine editions of the McDonald's Championship, a "club world championship" for basketball held in the late 1980s and 1990s. Additionally, many of the world's best basketball players, regardless of nationality (such as Yao Ming, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobli, et. al), are attracted to the NBA's higher competition and salaries, thereby justifying, to many, the label "world champions" for the NBA's championship team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Finals

[bruno sundov]

The simple fact that the Boston celtics are the greatest team in the world. WHo did USA beat for the gold this past summer? Its really not all that important. Playing by our rules the Celts would smoke them. They are one of the single greatest defensive teams ever. This team reminds me of Jordans bulls and how they played D especially in the 3 quarter.

[AlCelticFan]

I don't get the problem, honestly.

As I see it, the NBA is the premier basketball league in the world. I think you all agree.

So if you are the best team in the best league in the world, you are the best team in the world!

[MyInsatiableOne]

I don't get the problem, honestly.

As I see it, the NBA is the premier basketball league in the world. I think you all agree.

So if you are the best team in the best league in the world, you are the best team in the world!

Agreed.

Not for nothing but if I have something that is 50 to 100 years old why they hell would I change the name of it because someone else bothered to catch on 50 years later. There wouldn't be any basketball anywhere else in the "world" if it wasn't for the NBA.

Beyond that the College sports which are older than the pro leagues already called themselves the national champions, can't copy them and you have to sound bigger if you are the pros right?

Ditto

[Prophet_C]

The best players in the WORLD come to play in the NBA. We invented the sport and have dominated it. This topic is dumb.

[Mahoney_jr]

As an (mostly American-supportive) "outsider" I have not a big problem with it. But you have to expect many people to shake their heads and mutter some words like "typical US egocentrics"...

[MyInsatiableOne]

As an (mostly American-supportive) "outsider" I have not a big problem with it. But you have to expect many people to shake their heads and mutter some words like "typical US egocentrics"...

But since that attitude (not from you, though) comes from Europe, the vast majority of Americans just don't care what Europe thinks, anyway.

The best players in the WORLD come to play in the NBA. We invented the sport and have dominated it. This topic is dumb.

^^^This

[bruno sundov]

As an (mostly American-supportive) "outsider" I have not a big problem with it. But you have to expect many people to shake their heads and mutter some words like "typical US egocentrics"...

I will give you an Ameican answer, who cares what they think. If there champs were to play our who would win a best of 7? Ours easily so case closed for me.

[sully00]

There is no club team outside the United States that could compete in the NBA much like if we sent the N.E. Revolution or some other MLS team into Spain or Italy to play top level club soccer they would get their brains beat in.

It is the irony of the Olympics and the World Championships, if we would send the Celts or the Spurs into these competitions as well as enforce the NBA rules as they relate to the lane, goaltending, and the 3pt line (even though KG would avg 35-40 a game at that line) they would handle all comers. We simply have run into trouble with the teams assembled in short span of time based on their all star status as opposed to how they fit as team, Coach K ended that.

Rudy Fernandez was believed to be the best player outside of the NBA till this season, while likely to be a good player he likely will not start. Most internationally leagues have limits on how many Americans can play on a single team. Most of the best leagues outside of the U.S. are dominated by talents whether foreign or American born who could not succeed in the NBA at least at a level they were comfortable with.

To be fair, the Euro leagues are making a dent and much of it has to do with money. If they start signing Kobe and keeping their great talents overseas well then much like the American League and the AFL they will start to force change and cause NBA expansion overseas or some sort of tournament but until they can compete with the NBA, not the U.S., then they are who they are and the Boston Celtics are World Champions.

[Mahoney_jr]

It's not a matter of competitiveness. It just that nobody (=rest of the world) would even think about calling the title of a national sport event the "World Championships". If Nations are competing for a title they call it that way.

Even though Germany invented the modern team handball and has the best league of the world, the World Champions are determined from National Teams at the World Championships. The title of the champion of our national league is just called "Deutscher Meister".

But I have no problem with it. I just wanted to tell you how Europeans, Asians (whoever) may react on that title you are handing out. The title will just be respected as a national championship. The World Champion is Spain right now and the US will have a chance to dethrone them in 2010. That's the point of view outside of the US.

[dwestside]

As an (mostly American-supportive) "outsider" I have not a big problem with it. But you have to expect many people to shake their heads and mutter some words like "typical US egocentrics"...

I will give you an Ameican answer, who cares what they think. If there champs were to play our who would win a best of 7? Ours easily so case closed for me.

Yeah, that's an American answer alright.

if them were to play us in 7 game we win! me says case closed

[MyInsatiableOne]

It's not a matter of competitiveness. It just that nobody (=rest of the world) would even think about calling the title of a national sport event the "World Championships". If Nations are competing for a title they call it that way.

Even though Germany invented the modern team handball and has the best league of the world, the World Champions are determined from National Teams at the World Championships. The title of the champion of our national league is just called "Deutscher Meister".

But I have no problem with it. I just wanted to tell you how Europeans, Asians (whoever) may react on that title you are handing out. The title will just be respected as a national championship. The World Champion is Spain right now and the US will have a chance to dethrone them in 2010. That's the point of view outside of the US.

Luckily most people in this country don't give a damn what the rest of the world thinks anyway (myself included)!

[sully00]

Mahoney_jr

The distinction is clear. The NBA is what it is watched in countries all over the world including Europe and Asia. It is not a national championship because the best players in the world play in the NBA. FIBA is what it is and it has its tournament of nations every 4 years but that is like the Olympics there is no continuity to it. I don't think it is much of a stretch to guess that more people in the world know the Celtics won the NBA world championship than recall that Spain won the FIBA world championship or saw it happen.

As I explained before the original use of "world" champion was to distinguish the pro champ from the collegiate champ and was simply marketing. But these championships are now over a half a century to a century old. International basketball especially at a professional level is a direct derivative of the NBA and its World Championship, there would never be the prior without the latter. It is that world view that created international basketball.