Stern not giving up hope

[Andrew]

Europe a possibility by 2010

Seems the NBA is still determined to expand overseas. Even Larry Bird is in favour of the idea.

''It's a tough situation,'' Bird said. ''We have a lot of players who come (to Europe) to play, but it's on a totally different level. I think a team here would be awesome, would be great. It's just that a lot of American players are pampered. They want to stay at home with their mommies instead of travel all around the world. I think it would be awesome with another opportunity to spread the name of basketball.''

Still, I wonder how Larry Bird would feel if he was the player who was told "Pack your bags. You've been traded to Paris." I'm sure some players (especially those with families) find it inconvenient enough to be traded around the United States, let alone around the globe.

Expansion into Europe is possible, but is it really necessary? Perhaps there could be annual world tournaments or an international basketball league. I think the NBA should remain the professional league of the United States and Canada.

[LeBron James]

good idea.i like it.

[Ugur]

well that would be hell nice.
i wouldn't emigrate then to US for NBA (kidding(not about emigrating it will be i hope but not to US to NZ))

[Robby]

I read an article in a 1988 SI magazine that talked about this exact thing. It said that by the late 90's, the NBA will be an international (Europe) league. Hasn't happened till now, and I'm not sure it will happen anytime in the near future.

[Ugur]

well hope it does

[The Big Racist]

it would be cool but it would become crucial to the players as Andrew said would a player who is born in Miami and plays for the Heat (a warm place to live) gets traded to Finland He would freeze out there!and it would be devastating to go from LA to Paris and then back to LA!
It can only be reality when they make nba schedule longer 1 season 2-3 years + the vacation for the players...pretty huge work but when nba goes to europe players will get bigger contracts like in football

[Full Surface]

Plane flights might also be a problem, since bad weather could affect a game to be delayed.

[Matt]

yeah and if a USA player gets traded to say Germany i think he will struggle over there with the language, culture etc

this expansion would cause enormous problems

[MaD_hAND1e]

yeah, and wht abt away games? imagine LA playing a home game and thn having to fly over to europe for their next game, and thn play Orlando in the next. I think tht international tournament idea is good. Like the soccer champions league, the best teams from each league r sent to play in a tournament to be world champions or something like tht. But i'm sure the nba shouldn't expand to europe, maybe in 10 or 20 years or so whn planes can fly faster!~~!!!

[Colin]

The NBA should have developmental league of some sort over in Europe. But not a part of the league. The onyl way I see that working is if there was an American Conference with the East and West divisions, and a Europe Conference with East and West divisions and they only played each teams in their conference. The only games that would be played between tehm would be the finals in one chosen city or something like how the Super Bowl is done.

[Andrew]

I think a tournament featuring the champions of worldwide professional leagues would be sufficient. Something like the McDonalds Open, but held annually.

[Vins15]

The NBA should have developmental league of some sort over in Europe. But not a part of the league. The onyl way I see that working is if there was an American Conference with the East and West divisions, and a Europe Conference with East and West divisions and they only played each teams in their conference. The only games that would be played between tehm would be the finals in one chosen city or something like how the Super Bowl is done.

yes or only play against the other continent in the playoffs like the Major League Baseball do....AL vs NL

[ThisizaJackMove]

yeah, and wht abt away games? imagine LA playing a home game and thn having to fly over to europe for their next game, and thn play Orlando in the next. I think tht international tournament idea is good. Like the soccer champions league, the best teams from each league r sent to play in a tournament to be world champions or something like tht. But i'm sure the nba shouldn't expand to europe, maybe in 10 or 20 years or so whn planes can fly faster!~~!!!

Well Im sure they would try to make the schedules so that before, a team travels overseas, they will play and Eastern team...Me I'd say add a couple more Canadian teams, or maybe South American squads before traveling across the Atlantic.

[alexboom]

Like Colin said, I'd like to see a developpement league in Europe as it was done for NFL. That would be a good thing, and the competition with national leagues will boost them to do their best

[magius]

if it moves to europe you will see a case of eventually a majority of european players not resigning with their american teams to go play in europe, and a majority of americans not resigning with their teams to go play in america. most everyone'd rather play where they were born. and this situation would not be as one-sided as many believe, the europeans as is are fastly catching up and are easily on average more fundemental, and they are also develping some great superstars. american players on the other hand are moving backwards. i think a day will come when america is no longer number one, and i think stern sees that day coming too, hence the dream of euro expansion.

[Freddie Foxxx]

There are more American Players than foreign players, and that's why this won't work out. I kinda like the idea of having an American League and a Euro League, but players would still be traded, and it wouldn't be convinient for American families.

If Euro's want to play ball, they might not be able to see their mommy.

Thats just too bad. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Plus, this game was originated in America anyway.