I just finished my journey of college life, feeling anxious and eager to see where my next steps lead to.
While beginning my pursuit of a career in the sports industry, specifically the game of basketball, I understand the path to success will require a high level of work ethic and commitment, like most things in life do.
I played ball many times in my younger years, always believing I could make it to the highest level.
I could have never been wronger.
Being from an island called Puerto Rico certainly made it a tough challenge. But obviously I did not have the skills, abilities and dedication needed to be a professional basketball player.
Development and resources are very important factors for young athletes who want to get recognition.
In my writings I want to provide a straightforward perspective for the reader that can be clearly understood and also recognizable.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Sports and Technology
There are many words that can be used to describe sports.
The one that comes to mind for me is “evolution”.
I would make an argument the evolution of sports and technology have been hand in hand.
There is no doubt there has been a development of tools that has enhanced the preparation of player performance, and has revolutionized coaching strategies and player development.
Although in this proclamation I refer to all sports, my approach to the reasoning of this testimony is strictly from a basketball perspective.
International Competition: Structured Play vs. Raw Talent
Countries such as Canada, France, Serbia, Australia and so many others, have seen an immense increase in evolving elite NBA prospects.
And this is only the beginning.
Being a pure fan of basketball, I’ve heard or seen many disputes in recent times about how other countries around the world improved their basketball development programs to a level of being legitimate competitors for the USA nowadays in international basketball tournaments.
These disputes start with a narrative that international countries and players originate a style of play described as more “organized and structured” than the Americans.
While this article is not to either agree or disagree with this take, the fact is the Americans are still levels above talent and skill wise, even with an inferior youth basketball program system.
The European Model: Integrating Sports Academies into Education
Reasons as to why one is superior than the other can involve topics like laws and cultures, but that becomes a more complex examination.
The simple way to describe it is that many educational systems in Europe integrate sports academies within the educational framework.
In Europe there is also a professional club system. This means European basketball clubs have youth academies that nurture talent from a young age.
These academies are part of professional clubs, providing young players with access to top-tier coaching, facilities, and professional competitive opportunities from an early age.
Examples include FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and other prestigious European basketball clubs.
Luka Dončic, for example, developed through the youth system at Real Madrid. Dončić turned professional at 16 and gained significant experience playing in the EuroLeague for a few years before making the transition to the NBA.
It is important for me to emphasize that I am of the belief the United States will always have more skilled and talented athletes in basketball.
The USA has and will forever keep a strong tradition of developing basketball talent through high school and college systems, but it is clear to point out its flaws, especially if you go into depth in the USA/Europe comparison.
The reality is the European system of basketball development can provide a more comprehensive and effective developmental environment for young basketball prospects.
In other words, in most countries in Europe, their basketball development program is better than the USA.
Is not abnormal to make that statement.
It is also not uncommon to believe that the sport of basketball is far from reaching its full potential as far as players skills and capacities.
The Untapped Potential of Basketball Skills and Capacities
While basketball has made tremendous strides and gained a significant global following since it was invented in the year 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, the sport still has considerable room for growth.
Technology’s evolution is so advanced, it becomes easier to access ways of improving the practices and tendencies that create elite, top level players.
Whether its basketball drills, diet, training methods, technology will only keep getting better and progress.
And basketball will be on the same route.
A Vision for the Future: The NBA and Internationalized Competition
During the 2023-2024 season NBA fans got to see the inauguration of the newly implemented NBA Play-in Tournament, made to increase the intensity level of games in the regular season.
Even though fans should appreciate the intention behind the creation of the In-season tournament, I think there should be a more innovative approach to it.
The approach should be to once and for all put the “World Champs” statement of every NBA Finals winning team to the test of international competition.
My idea for the NBA is to focus on a plan of an internationalized In-season tournament that in its own unique style would have a resemblance of the UEFA Champions League in Europe.
Invite the top teams from other prestigious basketball leagues around the world to participate, fostering a truly global competition featuring different regions (North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.).
This is not an impossible scenario for the NBA but would obviously be a more concrete possibility in a much distant future.
