NBA vs. Euroleague Basketball

"What is the Euroleague?" is a common question in the United States, as nobody even knows that Europe has its own basketball league. However, in Europe, everybody knows what the NBA is. Europeans even stay up as late as 4 a.m. to watch NBA games. Most Europeans have favorite basketball players from the NBA; Pao Gasol being the Spanish favorite; Nowitzcki, the German; Tony Parker, the Belgium; and...etc. Without a doubt, NBA's popularity is superior to that of the Euroleague.

But the true question is whether NBA's basketball is better than the one in the Euroleague. In the US, most people would say "Yeah, of course, European basketball is nothing comparing to the NBA." They say this, because they have no idea what European basketball is. Another common misconception is that "best European players automatically go to the NBA" and that the Euroleague is only an amateur's league. This is not true. First of all, most of Euroleague players don't even plan to go the NBA, especially the best players who are payed well. Those who do go to the NBA, they do so only for financial reasons. The amount of international players in the Euroleague would make it seem even more global than the NBA.

Are Euroleague players more skillful? Well, there is not a correct answer to this question. During the off-season, there have been times when different teams from the NBA played Euroleague teams. Sometimes the NBA teams won, but not always. You can see in this video, one of ex-Euroleague players playing NBA superstars, and braking their ankles. Bodiroga vs. Carmelo Anthony.



The NBA has better action and games, but the European argument for that is that NBA games are set-up. Since the case of referee corruption during the games of Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angelos Lakers, fans of the NBA believed more and more that games are being set-up only to gain more viewers, where as in Europe this is not the case. To many, the NBA is becoming more like WWE- entertainment, not a true sport.

Overall, the NBA reigns superior; however, everyday it is more threatened by the rising quality of the Euroleague.