When it was announced on Monday that Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets would once again be the NBA’s MVP for the second year in a row, people all over the world celebrated.
That’s because Jokic’s honor was not only a huge deal for the Nuggets and the player himself but international fans throughout the globe.
Jokic’s triumph is further proof that the NBA is expanding its reach across the planet and is touching the hearts and minds of people from nearly every country.
You see this not only with the people watching the game but the people playing it too.
The league currently has more international players than ever before, including Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Luka Doncic, and so many more.
That’s all part of the plan, according to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers.
Doc Rivers on international players winning the last four MVPs in a row: “It’s David Stern’s dream.” Said the explosion of international talent across the past 20 years or so has been great for the sport.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 10, 2022
Asked about the number of international athletes winning MVP lately, Rivers said, “It’s David Stern’s dream.”
What does the late NBA Commissioner have to do with the global power of the NBA?
Every Corner Of The Globe
Back when Stern was running the league, he had a plan to greatly increase the NBA’s presence all over the world.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, there were not nearly as many international athletes entering the NBA.
But those who had left quite the impact.
Through exhibition games and marketing and television deals, the NBA soon started inspiring people all over and that led to a whole new generation of young men wanting to play in the biggest basketball league on Earth.
The international stars we see today are a direct result of Stern’s plan that was laid out years ago.
Rivers is right: it’s changed the game for the better.
Leave a Reply