When you think about pro basketball, you think of the NBA. The organizing body of the sport in the USA is where stars are born and multi-million-dollar contracts are signed. It’s the stuff of dreams of all serious basketball players and those who do make it to the apex of the sport - and dazzle on-court - become national heroes overnight!
To get into the NBA takes talent, skill and hard work. It also takes attracting the attentions of NBA scouts at the right time and in the right place… and where better place to shine than in a national league, no matter how small or insignificant.
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Here are four small but sassy basketball leagues that have the potential to grow the game in far-flung corners of the world and produce star players in their own right:
Federacao Angolana de Basquetebol
The Federacao Angolana de Basquetebol is the major basketball league in Angola. It’s been a member of the FIBA since 1979 and spawned some of the best players in Africa.
The southern African nation is the unassailable giant of basketball on the continent. Along with 11 AfroBasket titles and six medals at the African Games, the Angolan team is a regular competitor at the Summer Olympics and the FIBA World Cup. Angola is ranked 23
rd on the FIBA World Rankings.
Key players who started out in the local league include Hall of Famer and holder of a record seven continental titles, Jean-Jacques Conceicao and LPB Champion and shooting guard for Benfica in Portugal, Carols Morais.
Latvia Basketball Association
Image Source: basket.lv
Founded in 1923, the Latvia Basketball Association (LBA) represents the smallest country ever to win the EuroBasket. The 1930s were the golden era of basketball in the small Eastern European country as they bagged gold and silver in consecutive years at the EuroBasket and went on to compete at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.
Occupation by the Nazis and later the Soviets put paid to Latvia’s extraordinary prowess in the sport. After being disassociated from the FIBA, Latvian players were forced to play for the Soviet team. In 1991 the country regained independence and the LBA was re-affiliated with FIBA. However, 55 years in isolation has taken its toll and basketball in Latvia is still struggling to regain the pre-war glory years.
Despite challenges, one Latvian player has made an impact in the NBA. Current power forward and centre for the New York Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis is an NBA All-Star in 2018!
Federacion Dominicana de Baloncesto
Al Horford Image Source: ftw.usatoday.com
Currently ranked 18
th on the World Rankings, the Dominican Republic has churned out NBA stars. Players like five-time NBA All-Star and Boston Celtics power forward, Al Horford and the now retired NBA All-Rookie First Team player for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks, Charlie Villanueva hail from the tiny Caribbean nation.
Along with its top 20 ranking, the national basketball team has been a frequent participant in the FIBA AmeriCup and FIBA World Cup and missed qualifying for the 2012 Olympics by one spot!
Zambia Basketball Association
Image Source: fiba.basketball
What Zambia lacks in NBA stars it makes up with enthusiastic crowd support. Along with football, basketball is the most popular team game in the southern African nation. It has active men’s and women’s leagues operating under the Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA).
Although the national team has only qualified for the FIBA AfroBasket once, a number of players including Chanisa Mufwaume, Given Kalipindie and Arthur Zulu have gone on to play in foreign climes. One young Zambian tipped for bigger things is Paston Siame, current centre for Arizona Christian University.
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