Alright, thanks for that. ::)))

CSKA playing first

Don't forget the euro league final four is between the best four teams in Europe. They have gone through a full season of play off games plus their own teams league season club games and these players are not on nba type money but huge coin all the same. The nbl as a league to country basis still very good, yes there are better league teams in Europe but as a league the nbl is comparable to a lot of European team leagues.

The fifth game ABA finals also last night with duop Reath side winning 3-2. Reath who has made the Australian team selections and Perth supporters were hoping would play for them played a total of ten minutes in five games, seven, two, one and then nil and nil when the series was on the line. The aba is still strong but far from the best leagues in Europe and now not a very good paying league.

Yea ME is spot on

NBL is closer to 5th to 10th best league in the world outside of the NBA

Fran fraschila ranked the leagues fairly accurately a few years ago and had the NBL around 10th from memory

Which is still great, but yea no where near 2nd best like NBL keep saying

"The size of the players, the quickness, the shooting, decision making, any NBL team would get destroyed by one of these teams, they wouldn't get within 20 points of them."

That's incorrect.

The Perth wildcats beat real Madrid in the McDonald's cup.

You can read about it here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_McDonald%27s_Championship

"That was 25 years ago, watch the championship game on monday morning to get a better understanding."

Well, what's changed since then to make you suggest a nbl team couldn't get within 20 points of a euroleague team

By the way, real Madrid were the euroleague Champions that year the wildcats beat them

Real Madrid would beat the wildcats by twenty going away now. There squad is worth 40 million euro at end last season. Approx 63 million Australian, you work it out.

Most people's opinions of the various European national leagues are far overinflated versus reality. Sure the Euroleague is head and shoulders above the NBL but it’s a champions league. In my view there are 5 National leagues (not counting Euro League) that sit above the NBL.

NBA
Spain ACB
Russia VTB
Turkey BSL
Italy Serie A

The Germany (BBL), French (LNB), Adriatic (ABA), Greek (A1) all have solid individual clubs but aren’t as strong top to bottom as the NBL.

And yes, I have watched each of these leagues extensively over the years.

"Also Spanish basketball was very ordinary a few decades ago. Things have changed."

If Spanish basketball was ordinary at that time, then how did real Madrid win the euroleague (which includes other European countries?)

France and Germany do have weaker bottom teams compared to their top teams, but there leagues have 18 teams and far bigger budgets, so no the nbl is not above those, even the Greek league would be stronger over all. Yes and like you I've watched and followed European basketball for years.

Most club stadiums in Europe are 3500 to 8000 and normally have reasonable to good crowds, tickets are expensive. Now some clubs in Greece, Russia, Turkey, even Germany have stadiums larger than 10000 to max 15000. Some of the bigger teams in Europe get government money, but yes tv deals and sponsors plus tickets are there main source of money. If you get to play in one of the four European competitions there is money in that. Turkish airlines put in big bucks.

The population of Australia is very small compared to Spain, France, Italy etc. Now imagine a competition that brings all those nations together in the euroleague.

More eyeballs means more revenue opportunity. That's why nbl should be trying to attract more Asian viewers. That's the best chance to increase revenue to a scale where it can compete with Europe.

But instead you're hearing about Asia recruiting our best coaches like goorjian and lemanis

"The size of the players, the quickness, the shooting, decision making, any NBL team would get destroyed by one of these teams"

Don't agree with this at all. The most recent games between the leagues was a nine point win by CSKA Moscow over the Sydney Kings in 2007.

The Tall Blacks, with all-NBL talent, have beaten and been competitive with top European teams at major championships.

Yes, the Euroleague is better overall than the NBL, but Melbourne and Perth (and Sydney last year) would both be competitive in that competition, as would have the powerhouse Breakers teams.

Euro deals often are tax free. A lot of euros are quoted as the reason they often put off or never head to the state for the nba, it would be a significant pay cut along with less opportunity to play

No, they are comparing highly paid and tax free (well known, quoted multiple times) to low to mid, tax often high as a foreigner

Thanks PW, you are 100% right, plus car accommodation etc. it's a good deal if you can get it.