Quote from anon #195096:
"Why wouldnt this prompt the NBA to expand and have a Euro Division??"
A few reasons, but one of the biggest is the price of jet fuel! It's a long way to fly to play one or two games of basketball! Not to mention jet lag.
Also if the NBA were going to expand into Europe, they'd have to cull the number of teams in North America substantially. You need to play every team at least once to realistically say they are in the same league as you (!!!) and the season is long enough without adding more meaningless games to the schedule.
I'd prefer the NBA to stay in North America and to see a revived world club championship in the non World and Olympic years. But once again you would be pushing athletes endurance and would probably have the same problem with stars not wanting to play the extra games.
In response to another anon: Although Europe is only just starting to offer the big money to basketballers, the only way is up for them, with the $US in decline. Lets not forget that Americans don't have a mortgage on mega-money. There are a LOT of cashed up Euro businessmen more and more willing to bankroll sporting teams these days. Look at all the Russian cowboy capitalists...
Olskoolgamer, are you sure this will be good for basketball? I'm not wanting to particularly protect the NBA, but I much prefer the salary cap system it offers to what Euro soccer leagues offer. When there is no protection for smaller market teams, they just end up making up the numbers. The English Premier League is a prime example. I followed that for years, but I just don't have the interest anymore, because there are only 4 clubs out of 20 that have ANY chance of winning the league every year.