Basketball is perhaps one of the most popular sports in the entire world. While most of its popularity is centered around America, it’s quickly grown a huge following internationally. Fans exist all over the world, and it’s seen far more success breaking out of the American market than a sport like NFL.
But what makes basketball such a great sport? How does it turn watchers into passionate fans so quickly? Let’s take a look at some of the things that make basketball such a fantastic sport to enjoy.
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Basketball is an exciting sport to watch
There’s no denying that basketball is perhaps one of the most fast-paced and dynamic sports to watch as a spectator. It’s simple enough to understand; get the ball into the other team’s net. But the way it’s done is spectacular, exciting, and fantastic for spectators. There are unique passes, there are slam dunks, and there’s a lot of interaction and engagement between star basketball players. All of these factors put together make for an exciting and unique experience for spectators.
Basketball is competitive yet accessible
One of the great things about basketball is that it’s super competitive, but also really accessible. Diehard basketball fans such as Benjamin Graziano of Des Moines are incredibly passionate about the sport, often giving suggestions on how teams could improve and learning from the mistakes they’ve made in the past. It’s incredibly competitive to a point you could analyze games down to individual plays. However, it’s still accessible with a wealth of information on the internet and television. No matter where you are in the world, you can watch and follow basketball and keep up with its competitive nature.
Basketball has star players that people love to watch
There are many incredibly popular basketball players in the world. 400 million people around the world watch basketball regularly, and they all tune in to watch their favorite teams and players. Unique personalities such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James are always in the limelight whether they’re actively playing on the court or doing other things. They are iconic figures not just in basketball, but also popular culture. Fans can easily develop strong connections to these players, and that increases the passion that people have for the game.
Basketball has a huge community
Basketball is enjoyed all over the world, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity for social interaction. As mentioned before, basketball has around 400 million fans, so there are bound to be like-minded individuals and passionate fans no matter where you go. Groups discuss games together, analyze their favorite players, and attend games together. Much like any sport, there’s a massive community that surrounds the game, meaning it’s the perfect opportunity to build relationships and make friends. This is one of the reasons why basketball is so popular as an international sport too; even if you can’t communicate well with language, you can still watch a game of basketball together and get excited over the same things.