Since its invention in the late 19th century, basketball has always fascinated the spectators with its unique combination of speed, power, and grace. The game is sometimes described as ‘poetry in motion’, and at the highest level it regularly includes athletic feats that regular humans can’t even think about attempting. Watching an elite shooter find nothing but the net from long distance or a powerful dunker soar high above the rim can be an exhilarating experience, so it’s not a surprise that basketball is one of the most popular sports in many places around the world.
It is also one of the most global sports that is increasingly finding new sources of talent and converting millions of new international fans.