Best Countries in Basketball | Best Basketball Countries Ranked

United States

The sport of basketball originated in the United States, so it seems only fair to list the USA as the number-one country in the world for basketball. Basketball is one of America’s four ‘major league’ sports, alongside American football, ice hockey and baseball. 

The NBA was founded in 1946 and quickly established itself as the world’s premier professional basketball league, with NBA betting markets still attracting plenty of liquidity worldwide today. 

The NBA season ensures there’s plenty of basketball coverage throughout the year. Each team in the NBA plays no less than 82 times between October and April, with postseason playoffs – culminating in the NBA Finals – running through to June. 

The NBA happens to be the third wealthiest professional sports league in the US right now, with only the NFL and Major League Baseball (MLB) surpassing it in terms of revenue. 

It must also be said that college basketball is just as popular stateside. The NCAAB is a melting post of hot prospects looking to catch the eye of NBA teams in future NBA drafts. March Madness, the biggest NCAAB knockout competition in the season, captures the imagination of American basketball fans. 

China

Although China has long been passionate about football and major leagues such as the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, the NBA is now established as the country’s most popular professional sports league. 

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) has worked hard to support the rise of basketball in China. In fact, the Chinese national team has been one of the dominant forces in Asian basketball for decades. China has no less than 16 FIBA Asia Cup titles to their name between 1975 and 2005. 

The export of Chinese basketballers to the USA has helped turbocharge interest in the sport too. In fact, six Chinese players have gone on to represent NBA teams. The most famous Chinese basketballer was Yao Ming, who posted a points average of 20+10 in his debut NBA season – the first time a rookie has achieved this feat. 

In 2019, China was also selected as the FIBA Basketball World Cup host, underlining its reputation as a hotbed for the sport. 

Philippines

The Philippines might not be the first country you think of when it comes to the best basketball countries, but Filipinos go mad for basketball. In fact, it’s comfortably the most popular sport on these islands. It’s a sport that’s enjoyed both at amateur level and professional level. 

The American colonial era brought basketball to the Philippines, and has been played competitively in schools since the early 20th century. Almost a century ago, the Basketball Association of the Philippines helped the country become a member of the FIBA. In the same year (1936), the Philippines competed in basketball at the Olympic Games, finishing fifth. 

The sport took flight in 1951 after the Philippines landed gold at the Asian Games, and the country would go on to dominate the sport at the Asian Games for more than a decade. The country was also the first Asian nation to stage the FIBA World Championship in 1978, which was a mark of the sport’s popularity here. 

Sotto did end up spending time with Orlando Magic during the 2023 NBA summer league, receiving 13 minutes of playing time and shooting 3-7 from the field.  

Lithuania

The eastern European country of Lithuania lives and breathes basketball. It’s comfortably the most popular sport among Lithuanians. If you walk into any of the major cities, the sports shops are full of basketball jerseys.  

Lithuanian people are fanatical about basketball and barely any other sport. Before World War II, Lithuania landed the 1937 and 1939 EuroBasket tournaments, which catapulted basketball into Lithuanian popular culture. 

Lithuanian independence in 1990 saw the country regain its basketball identity, landing a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. 

At the time of writing, three Lithuanian players are on the roster of NBA teams. Matas Buzelis plays for the Chicago Bulls, Domantas Sabonis turns out for the Sacramento Kings, and long-standing NBA player Jonas Valanciunas currently plays for the Washington Wizards.  

Greece

The Greeks are another nation of basketball lovers. The sport has a long and proud history in this country, having arrived on these shores in the early 20th century. The Panhellenic Championship, now known as the Greek League, was formed, resulting in high-level regional competitions. 

Greek basketballer Faidon Matthaiou’s success helped cement the sport in Greek popular culture. Matthaiou became a basketball icon, leading the nation to their first bronze medal at the 1949 EuroBasket. 

By the late 1980s, basketball in Greece was firmly established as one of the nation’s most popular sports. Its victory at the EuroBasket in 1987, hosted in the Greek capital of Athens, lit the blue touch paper. They would go on to win the EuroBasket gold medal again in 2005. The men’s professional basketball scene is in rude health in Greece. 

The likes of Panathinaikos and Olympiacos have enjoyed tremendous success both domestically and at a continental level. The former has won six EuroLeague titles, while Olympiacos has three to its name. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has also firmly put Greek basketball on the map, helping the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Championship in 2021. 

Spain

Although football remains the number-one sporting love of Spaniards, basketball is a very close second. In fact, Spain’s Liga ACB league is one of the biggest domestic basketball leagues in Europe. Liga ACB is part of ULEB, enabling the most successful teams in Spain to compete at a continental level in the Euroleague and Eurocup. 

The Spanish professional basketball pyramid is seriously impressive. There are 18 teams in Liga ACB, followed by another 18 teams in LEB Oro – the second tier – and 24 teams in LEB Plata – the third tier. 

There are even five regionalised groups in Liga EBA at the fourth tier. The Copa del Rey de Baloncesto is one of the biggest domestic basketball competitions in Spain, attracting the attention of fans midway through the regular season. 

It’s a mark of how popular basketball is in Spain that their biggest clubs have their own dedicated stadium. Real Madrid’s team play at the WiZink Center, which holds over 17,000 people and has been the finals venue for several major basketball events like EuroBasket, EuroLeague and the FIBA Basketball World Cup. 

The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is just as intense in basketball as it is in football, with Barca coming out narrowly on top overall with 17 Liga ACB titles to Real’s 14.  

Mongolia

Although Mongolia may appear a leftfield pick as one of the best basketball countries in the world, the Mongols genuinely adore their basketball. It’s comfortably the country’s most popular sport, and there is a real sense that their national team is making big strides at a continental level. 

Mongolia had their eyes set on the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup after successfully making it through the pre-qualifying round, finishing second in Group A (round one) and third in Group F (round two). However, they fell at the third stage of qualifying, finishing bottom of Group C with just two points, after being handed a tough draw alongside China, Japan, and Guam.   

Longer term, the Mongolian Basketball Association (MBA) is investing heavily in building a youth development network connected to a professional league and the national team. Battsengel Gotov, president of the MBA, recently spoke of his pride at how the next generation of Mongolian basketball fans engage with the sport. 

With no other sport comparing in terms of fan power in Mongolia, this country will look to take a leaf out of the Philippines’ book in building a basketball legacy to be proud of. 

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