Basket fall: Asia and Africa out of World Cup at first hurdle

Come on now, let's be real.

It will be decades before Asia can be taken seriously as a basketball threat to the rest of the world.

It will be decades before Asia can be taken seriously as a basketball threat to the rest of the world.

It's going to be a hell of a lot longer than decades I will bet. Europe has some very competitive leagues where players from all over the continent get a chance to play against high level teams. There are no leagues in Asia that even come close to the competition that can be found in Europe.

Until there are leagues, where players can develop to at least the current European level of play, Asia is always going to be on the loosing end of things!

Until kids play BB every day from age 7 on, they won't be able to compete. It is common to see a BB net on a home in the USA if they have a child. I see the neighbor teens shooting free throws about an hour a day, except when there is snow or ice. Rain and he's out there shooting.

@theFu

It has to start somewhere. I have a couple Japanese friends who happen to be over 6 feet tall and love basketball who co-host a basketball club in Adachi-ku for elementary and Junior high school age kids. Also, I think Hachimura is helping to fuel the passion for the future of Japanese basketball. I doubt it will ever surpass baseball, but I hope, with kids growing taller by the year, that BB will become something more than a novelty.

I won't be surprised if the rules of eligibility are relaxed like in rugby so that countries with money like china,Japan and the oil rich gulf nations could easily bolster their through import of foreign talents.

I won't be surprised if the rules of eligibility are relaxed like in rugby so that countries with money like china,Japan and the oil rich gulf nations could easily bolster their through import of foreign talents.

Guess you dont watch the bjleague!