Is the NBA a Fan Favorite?

With a catchy slogan that passionately states, "I Love This Game!" the National Basketball Association (NBA) has put itself out on a limb. While the league seemingly presumes its fans' undying affection for the game, a relevant question remains is the game as well-liked as in previous years?

The official attendance numbers answer that it is. By most standards, the 2005-06 season was a runaway success. The NBA completed the season with the highest average attendance in history and the highest total attendance, surpassing the previous records from 2004-05. The average attendance of 17,558 fans per game surpassed the 2004-05 record of 17,314 fans per game, and the 1995-96 average of 17,252. The most official recent total attendance record of 21,595,804 eclipsed the previous record of 21,296,497 established in 2004-05, and the 1995-96 total of 20,513,218 fans attending regular season games. Overall, NBA stadiums were filled to 91.4 percent capacity.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, when asked about the league's growth in popularity said: "Our attendance record shows the extraordinary connection that exists between players and fans, and we are thankful for our fans continued support and passion for the game."

Rated as the most powerful commissioner of any major American sport, Stern garnered the #1 rank on the 2006 Sporting News "The Power 100" survey.

The sport of basketball has erupted in popularity around the globe during the last two decades. The NBA now has 11 offices in cities outside the United States, and during the 2005-06 season sent programming to 215 countries and territories in 43 languages, according to their official Web site. League games now reach 3.1 billion viewers worldwide, and branded products are sold in more than 100 countries on six continents. China is the NBA's second-largest market after the U.S.

Reflecting the globalization of the sport, opening night team rosters for the 2006-07 season featured a whopping 83 international players from 37 countries and territories, marginally surpassing last season's 82. Twenty-eight of the 30 teams employ at least one international player. With a total league roster of 440, foreign-born players account for a full 19 percent.

So, it appears that the NBA is steering a correct course as the league continues to grow in popularity around the world, drawing young future potential players from all corners of the planet. It is predictable that the number of international players will continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Along with more participants from different countries will naturally come more national interest from the people in those places.

In answer to the question posed in the article title, as it turns out a large number of fans all around the globe would indeed say, "I love this game!"

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