When people think of basketball, Asia doesn’t usually spring to mind. So, you might be surprised to learn that basketball in Asia is becoming increasingly popular. Just this past week on Monday, November 29th, Syria hosted an Asia region World Cup qualifying game with Syria playing against Kazakhstan, who won the match with a final score of 81-71.
Anthony Ronzone is well-known name in American basketball, having led multiple teams to championships during his coaching career. Not as many know that Tony Ronzone has also run basketball clinics in North Korea and coached the Chinese Olympic team. Below, Anthony Ronzone explains the rising popularity of basketball in Asian countries and what to expect in the future.
Why is Basketball Popular in Asia?
It may shock you to realize that basketball has been prominent in Asia since the 1890s. Anthony Ronzone explains that YMCA missionaries brought the sport with them when they traveled to China on a mission trip, and the game stuck. From then on, it spread in popularity to other countries and became a national pastime for many Asian nations.
But basketball’s popularity in Asia isn’t just because people love the sport; there are several reasons why this sport is such an important sport in the east.
It’s a Way Out of Poverty
Like any other place in the world, Anthony Ronzone says that Asia experiences high rates of poverty. For example, corresponding to the latest data supplied by the World Bank, 0.6 percent of the Chinese population lives below the country’s official poverty line. Thus, the amount of people looking for opportunities to provide for themselves and their families is high, and major league basketball, like the NBA, can offer that to folks in need. It’s become a way for individuals who are good at the game to get out of poverty.
The average salary for a Chinese player is around USD 2 million. It is also noteworthy to mention that the league has put a cap on players’ salaries for the 2021-2022 season to avoid excessive salaries.
It’s Bridging the Gap Between Cultures
As previously mentioned, Syria has just held its first championship game in years. With the conflict and war that has plagued the nation in recent years, any respite and show of normalcy they can get, even in the form of a sports match, is a welcome distraction amidst the political climate.
Even in places like North Korea, the game is helping to extend the olive branch with many nations according to Anthony Ronzone. South Korea has even played matches against their neighbor to the north. Any event that brings North and South Korea together is a positive move for global politics and peace in the peninsula, because these interactions help the citizens of the North and South realize their similarities and remember that they share a culture and a country, as divided as it may be.
It’s a Worldwide Economy Booster
FIBA Asia continues to receive support from the west. One of the biggest names in basketball, former NBA player Dennis Rodman, is a great friend and regular guest in North Korea and advises the North Korean basketball team on playing their best game.
However, Anthony Ronzone explains that both western and eastern nations realize that this sport is profitable. Asia, and more specifically, China, is an untapped market. With over 1 billion people, there is a lot of money to be made, and according to CNBC, the Chinese market is worth 5 billion dollars to the NBA, with partnerships, sales, and media deals accounting for that figure. With dollar signs that big, it is easy to see why the NBA wants to keep its Chinese fans happy.
As a result, the NBA has been wooing the fans with warm-up shows or interviews with Asian superstars like Yao Ming—who played for the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA and Houston Rockets of the NBA. They’ve also been boosting merchandise to appeal to the Chinese market.
It’s not just the NBA who has a dog in the fight; a group of ex-NBA players has banded together to back a start-up in Hong Kong to foster the game and bridge the gap between east and west to grow basketball in Asia. Metta Sandiford-Artest, Baron Davis, and Shane Battier have helped raise $13 million to get the sport up and running with the launch of the East Asia Super League, thus opening the business up to some competition with the NBA for fans and money.
The league is showing signs of success already, having launched in October, but it is still developing along with its fanbase. Anthony Ronzone says this boost of healthy competition from the East Asia Super League is sure to spread sports’ reach to a wider audience and bring in more fans and more money.
The Future of Basketball in Asia
Basketball is truly an ambassador for economic and social development in the Asian region. The future for basketball in Asia looks bright reports Anthony Ronzone. With so many ex-players and financiers entering the Asian market, we are sure to see the sport increase in popularity and bolster the economy for years to come.
