Basketball was created in America by a (naturalized) American. For decades it was played best by Americans.
America dominated the game internationally. Basketball was always red, white and blue, as American as apple pie.
Then, the 1988 Olympics gold medal basketball game changed everything.
America, gasp, wasn't in it!
The basketball gold medal was seen as America's birthright. We don't do bronze!
Order was quickly restored thanks to the first and only real American "Dream Team" but America was on notice, the game was changing.
America's game was being played in Russia, Argentina, and even China. It wouldn't be long before the NBA took notice.
Today there have been 74 nations other than the USA represented in the Association. Some of those international players were born in other countries but played college ball in the USA.
More recently however we have seen on onset of foreign-born players who never played in the USA and were still drafted into the NBA.
NBA GM's, who in years past never had to stray far from home, now regularly make trips abroad to scout talent.
Because the international game is different than the style played in the US, evaluating a foreign ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Jose Salviati
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