Title: Globalisation and management of the National Basketball Association since the 1980s

Authors: Naoki Chiba

Addresses: Department of Life Design, Hokusho College, 23, Bunkyo-dai, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, 069-8511, Japan

Abstract: Drawing upon world-system theory this study focuses on international player migration as it is related to the global strategies of the NBA since the 1980s. The findings indicate that the number of foreign-born players in the NBA increased from 57 in the 2000-2001 season to 109 in 2007-2008. This study conceptualises the NBA with respect to the world-system theory such that North America is the centre, Europe is semi-periphery, Central/South America and Africa are periphery, and Asia and Oceania are considered part of the external world. Improvement in the management of NBA teams included increases of: 1) ticket receipts based on new construction and rebuilding of every arena; 2) broadcasting rights fees; 3) sponsorships based on sports marketing. The NBA actively expanded the number of teams in the USA and Canada since the late 1980s and expanded the overseas market by planning the MacDonald's championships and the NBA Japan/China Games.

Keywords: National Basketball Association; NBA; globalisation; basketball; David Stern; management; world system theory; international player migration; foreign-born players; ticket receipts; broadcasting rights; sport marketing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2012.047132

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2012 Vol.11 No.3/4, pp.143 - 157

Received: 03 Mar 2011
Accepted: 12 Dec 2011
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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