Basketball is growing. Nowadays, it isn’t a sport solely associated with the United States of America and nations in that part of the world, with the NBA now housing a plethora of talents from Europe. From Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Vucevic, the league is now filled with impressive NBA players from various European nations.
While most of these countries also see many other sports thriving, such as soccer, basketball has witnessed notable growth thanks to these inspirational figures who inspire young players back home. Nowadays, European fans watch the NBA and bet on the sport after looking at the latest NBA odds, while they’re also playing fantasy games and snapping up team merchandise. There is a clear appetite for the sport.
But which European countries have the most passionate basketball fans? While there isn’t a clear answer here, and the debate will rumble on for years to come, certain European nations adore the sport of basketball. So, with that in mind, let’s look at some of them below.
Spain
The Spanish are the masters of many sports, including soccer. While fans are also partial to watching European behemoths like Real Madrid and Barcelona in action in La Liga, there is also an evident passion for basketball. Not only have some top Spaniards made it in the NBA, such as Pau Gasol, but the country’s domestic league is also strong. The Spanish Liga ACB is second behind the NBA for many basketball enthusiasts. Barcelona above and Real Madrid even have their teams, which are forces in the European basketball climate. Additionally, Spain’s national team has recently recorded plenty of triumphs, winning the World Cup and a few other major competitions.
Italy
In another nation where sports like soccer are the main attraction, there is still plenty of interest in basketball in Italy. The Italian authorities invest a lot of money in young talent, their Lega Basket Serie A is filled with fierce competitors, and players like Marco Belinelli and Andrea Bargnani have helped to grow the sport in their homeland.
Serbia
When Novak Djokovic isn’t serving his way to victory on the tennis court, Serbians love playing basketball. A considerable part of the nation’s culture is that its international team competes well on the biggest stages, and youngsters are captivated by the sport. Serbian clubs have also proved to be a stern test for many of their European rivals, with the likes of Partizan Belgrade and Red Star Belgrade achieving several positive results over the years and building big fanbases.
Lithuania
They’re obsessed with basketball in Lithuania. Domantas Sabonis flying the Lithuanian flag in the NBA has undoubtedly helped. Still, it’s a country that has a deeply ingrained interest in the sport long before their star man joined the Sacramento Kings. Even before the days of another icon from Lithuania, Arvydas Sabonis, basketball was a prominent sport in the country. Lithuania has basketball courts, especially since the national team succeeded in major competitions like the Olympics. Ultimately, with success comes popularity. Nowadays, an increasing amount of Lithuanians regard themselves as diehard basketball fans.
Greece
The Greeks are also huge fans of basketball. The aforementioned Giannis Antetokounmpo has undoubtedly helped, although the nation also has a rich basketball heritage. From the Greek Basket League to the national team’s extraordinary triumph at the European Championship in 2005, the country has an affinity with basketball for numerous reasons.
