The NBA All-Star Weekend just wrapped up in San Francisco with a fresh twist , blending high-flying dunks, shorter games, and a spotlight on the league’s growing international fanbase. This year’s revamped format saw players from 12 countries compete, underlining basketball’s status as a global language
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\"The energy this weekend wasn’t just about California—it came from Manila, Paris, Lagos, and beyond,\" said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a post-game interview. Over 25% of current NBA players hail from outside the U.S., including stars like Serbia’s Nikola Jokić and Cameroon’s Joel Embiid, proving the sport’s worldwide reach .
New markets are driving the boom: jersey sales in the Philippines surged 200% this season, while India saw its first-ever All-Star watch parties. Even the halftime show featured K-pop group BTS’s Jungkook (yes, really! ), blending sports and culture for Gen-Z fans.
As the final buzzer sounded, one thing was clear—the NBA isn’t just a league; it’s a front-row seat to globalization’s winning playbook .
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NBA showcases global popularity during All-Star Weekend festivities
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