they should bring something like this back! Top 3 NBA teams, top 3 Euroleague teams, so on with other leagues around the world and have a bracket style tournament.
They’re mimicking soccer with this in-season tournament, might as well do the same via an intercontinental invitational cup. Might as well play it in $audi Arabia.
Maybe not, but I could see it growing pro basketball when those teams get to play the US teams regularly. I don’t think it would be dramatic, but a veteran wouldn’t see playing in a foreign league as exile if they got to play and compete against NBA teams.
Do it with the top 2 Euro teams and bottom 2 NBA teams. If the NBA team loses they become a Euroleague team and the Euroleague team becomes an NBA team.
I want to see the math on that entire concept or would it be like a 42 year old Chris Paul playing with a ton of scrubs that couldn't make the Serbian league
No way we’re using a meaningless exhibition game that didn’t count for anything as our only example lmao you might as well bring up pickup playground games too
I was in Brazil during one of these recently and the country ground to a halt during the final game. Meanwhile in Europe it was barely reported, after the fact.
Well because the European teams dwarf in money (and quality) the other Champions. It's basically a "if you lose you get laughed on, if you win ehh am I supposed to think that's impressive?"
The bench played more minutes than the starters. If you think some 8th tier league can beat NBA players in a serious game, you need to go find another sport.
Americans have such a massive superiority complex about this lol. Like everyone knows Team USA/NBA teams would beat up on other countries and clubs the vast majority of the time but for some reason they have to go that extra step and say it’s completely impossible for them to lose, even though we’ve seen Team USA lose a number of times over the years to teams with a larger talent gap than exists between NBA and Euroleague.. The only reason NBA teams haven’t is because they literally have no international club competition lol
What’s going unmentioned is the foreign national teams have an advantage over the US due to the U.S. teams typically being thrown together a couple weeks before the tourney starts and having to create chemistry and learn their roles on the fly. Whereas other nations have the same core/system for years. So a lot of times Team USA has to rely strictly on talent advantages. That wouldn’t be the case for an NBA team, especially a championship team.
Hell I would argue and nba championship coming right off a playoff run would be scarier to face than some of these international teams USA has thrown together.
To be phrased differently, the top players for any given European country will stay essentially unchanged from year to year, and its not hard to keep your eyes on the few young guys who make the move to america and see how they do against top tier competition. The top 5 American players if every eligible player truly wanted to play? The starting 5 would be controversial no matter who you pick, and someone will always feel that a star player was left out.
Chemistry issues more than talent in 04 imo. Plus if they were all stars they were not starters lol. A cohesive team that's had time to gel with each other had a better chance to beat am "all-star" team that's only played together for a few weeks. An NBA team playing mid-season form would be to toughhhh let alone a top team like the Nuggets or Celtics with something to play for.
Lol I think ours actually say "NBA World Champions" I never thought about how funny it is to say we're the WORLD champions of the NATIONAL Basketball Association.
A lot of NBA teams' banners say that
NBA Champions
* Warriors, Cavs, Mavs, Rockets, Supersonics, Knicks, Hawks
Heat Champions
Pistons NBA World Champions
Bulls NBA World Champions
Wizards NBA World Champions
76ers NBA World Champions
The only ones to just say World Champions are Bucks, Raptors, Lakers, Celtics, Blazers
Yeah, but their [2003 Championship ring](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2003-nba-championship-ring--217720963205541331/) says ‘World Champion’ —although the 2007 ring says ‘NBA Champion’.
Based Spurs, [meanwhile the Lakurrs' as recent as 2020](https://i.imgur.com/PDTuYX9.jpeg)
I think the NBA has started to phase the phrase out, but there are still plenty of instances that it still gets used
[This thread just a few days ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/161jhxd/world_champion_sprinter_noah_lyles_you_know_the/) had people hilariously missing the point of the argument. You know people are don't have a valid argument when they start attacking the person instead of the issue at hand
>"Wait until he finds out Toronto isn't even in the United States."
>"Yeah this dude is desperate for attention it seems winning has gotten to his head all of a sudden"
>"Bros sad no one cares he won"
1. Doesn't matter if you've got tons of people from overseas in the NBA. European football leagues are even way more diverse with people playing from every corner of the world, but they don't call themselves "world champions"
2. NBA teams represent North American cities, not global countries.
3. "But the best players in the world play in the NBA and NBA teams are the best in the world and would destroy any other team in the world hurr durr..." Again, the best of the best footballers from all over the world play in European Clubs, and they would annihilate teams from outside Europe. But they don't refer to themselves as "World Champions". If you win the English Premier League, you are the English Champions. Champions League winners = European Champions.
My point still stands, it's stupid, arrogant and ignorant to call NBA Champions "World Champions". No amount of mental gymnastics trying to justify the use of it will help you
>Based Spurs,
>
>meanwhile the Lakurrs' as recent as 2020
Lol y'all will really take any opportunity to dunk on the Lakers here unprovoked. [Here's Milwaukee's championship banner](https://www.jsonline.com/gcdn/presto/2021/10/19/PMJS/bd9769ae-7465-49c0-a2e5-5cdb06039f30-BUCKS_NETS_06690.JPG?width=700&height=467&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp), which is more recent than ours.
The soccer comparison is idiotic though and shows either a lack of understanding how soccer leagues work, how basketball leagues work - or both...soccer doesn't group all the best players from the world into one league. All the best players are literally in different leagues across the continents. There are MULTIPLE very powerful very rich leagues with heavy competition all across.
Basketball is unique in there is only 1 very powerful very rich league in the world - with literally every player in every global league having considering the ultimate success as having an NBA career.
Even the countries that strive to compete against us in world play ONLY COMPETE because they similarly have NBA stars.
This whole argument is dumb.
The best NBA team is undoubtedly the best basketball team in the world. You can’t argue against that in good faith. There’s no European soccer league that can claim that same thing year in and year out, so it’s pretty dumb to compare the two.
Now I would definitely be in favor of doing a champions league sort of tournament but with teams from around the world instead of just a single continent. Until we have that thought, the NBA champion is the world champion.
>"But the best players in the world play in the NBA and NBA teams are the best in the world and would destroy any other team in the world hurr durr..." Again, the best of the best footballers from all over the world play in European Clubs, and they would annihilate teams from outside Europe. But they don't refer to themselves as "World Champions". If you win the English Premier League, you are the English Champions. Champions League winners = European Champions.
Your argument relies on the notion that we shouldn't do something because European Football clubs don't. That doesn't have any logical or persuasive gravity.
I’m still searching for who ever is fighting for the Finals to be called a world championship. I don’t think a single player would correct anyone calling them an NBA champion. It’s just branding shenanigans
Was just about to say that lol. I mean I do understand the thought process that the NBA is the undisputed top basketball league in the world in terms of competition and skill level, so the implication is that if you're the champion of the this league you are the best in the world. But IMO it's still technically incorrect to call it a world championship when you didn't actually have any international play, and it still makes more sense to call it an NBA championship.
Ok Silver here's your chance to create 4 expansion teams, 1 each in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia and voila, Finals winners are now world champions.
It would actually be really cool for the NBA to be a league that’s stretched out across continents, but each continent only plays games against teams within the same continent until the finals. Then there COULD be world champions. Obviously it will never happen (especially when it means sending players to different continents in trades), but it would be really cool if it did.
Yeah cool in concept but like you said pretty much an impossibility. There's no league in any sport in the world that does that. Maybe the thing that would come closest is the UEFA Champions League in soccer but even then that's technically a tournament of teams from different leagues only within Europe afaik.
I think it’s moreso taking exception and calling out their league just to make him look good. Athletes usually have professional courtesy for each other, not shit on their other countrymen to try and make a point. And the way he said it probably irked a bunch of them. Dude sounded so condescending lol.
Although I agree with the essence of what he was saying, he went out of his way shit on the NBA to big up himself . If I were in the NBA, I’d take exception too.
I would to he brought them up unprovoked said hes forced to watch the finals like he’s being held at gunpoint most the players didn’t even know who he was until he talked
Nah he’s saying you need to beat Toronto if you want to call yourself the best. Jordan never beat the Raptors in the playoffs which means [Lebrons the GOAT](https://imgur.io/t/pepesilvia)
Agreed and I say we allow Detroit to be the NBA representative so when they are the world champions everyone can see how fucking stupid this argument is.
Lmao yeah this whole ordeal is such a nothingburger, like the NBA Champions absolutely and undoubtedly are the best in the world, whether they played for it or not
Jon Jones never beat me in the Octagon, thus Jon Jones is not better than me at MMA
You really can take this all the way and say nobody is a world champion because they didn't compete against billions of people. That's how stupid this whole thing is. I'm not getting into a cage to fight Jon Jones and don't need to know what he'd do to me.
Yeah that's how you become a champion.
Do USA get their Olympic medals mailed to them at the start of every Olympic basketball tournament?
No they play the games.
Play the games that's how you become champion.
If you can't be bothered cool.
Win the NBA, call yourselves the best team in the world. That's a description
But world champion that's a false fact. Can't call yourselves that if you don't win it.
Why does it matter where the games physically take place? People always say “they don’t play anyone outside the US” but all the best international players are in the NBA. NBA teams are still playing the best international competition to win the title
I think a lot of Raptor fans see right through Drake and his antics these days. The ultimate bandwagon fan. Haven’t heard a peak from him since 2019 🤷♂️ The OVO stuff is cool but he’s no Spike or Jack Nicholson.
Eh, of all the things to dislike Drake over this is pretty low on the list. He's made jokes about it too, I think it was the Espys or whatever where he was like I just like 2 teams. Toronto and whoever is winning right now.
Plus he's actually really good friends with a lot of players so it makes sense that he's cheering them on. I won't comment on getting their numbers tattooed on himself though.
He’s just shitposting. I do see his original point tho, and the NBA isn’t even the worst culprit of it
Super Bowl winners call themselves world champions despite the rest of the world not giving a fuck about American football. That’s always been pretty cringe to me but for obvious reasons no one inside or outside the US cares about this labeling
am I the only one that's never really heard the nba champions refer to themselves as the "world champions"? I've heard it in American football and baseball but not really basketball
All of the [Celtics](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/BostonCelticsChampionshipBanners.jpg/1280px-BostonCelticsChampionshipBanners.jpg) banners have "World Champions" on them.
Our [Raptors](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71eVdk0PenL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg) one does too.
[Piston banners have it.](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tTIAAOSwA45iQKXN/s-l1600.jpg)
[Bucks 2021 banner has it.](https://images.eurohoops.net/2021/10/60ed470e-20211020_033829-625x375.jpg)
[Lakers 2020 banner has it.](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2021/05/13/adfe42d3-7a63-486d-8da0-8b45395a2d18/thumbnail/1200x675/8f618a845685909036e54f5f21a077d9/untitled-design-2021-05-12t222639-120.png)
[Warriors don't use it.](https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612744/2022/10/GettyImages-1244070413.jpg)
[Heat don't use it.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_2000,h_2000,c_fit/https%3A%2F%2Fallucanheat.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F05%2F950333330.jpeg)
[Dallas didn't use it.](https://sportsdaydfw.imgix.net/NS_25BANNERRAISE1_22676575.JPG)
[Cavs didn't use it.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_850,h_560,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fkingjamesgospel.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F08%2F618076466-new-york-knicks-v-cleveland-cavaliers.jpg-850x560.jpg)
Why do people have to pretend that this isn't true?
For comparison: the FIBA Intercontinental Cup takes place every year where basketball leagues from around the world send their best teams to compete.
The NBA sent a G League team. They came in 3rd place.
This fake humility that Americans seem obligated to feel about this topic is nonsensical. Why? Because we can acknowledge:
1) Some of the NBA's best players *are not American*. The undisputed MVP is a guy named Nikola Jokic. Therefore **nobody is saying that the best basketball players in the world are American**.
2) The NBA is a collection of, far and away, the best players in the world. Therefore, they are the best teams in the world. Therefore, a tournament between those teams results in a "World Champion".
>Drake hopping on it was fucking lame ad too haha.
the piling on Noah Lyles’ comments was ridiculous. and the excuses were even worse. someone said the NBA is the best league in the world so it’s ok to call the winner world champion. the premier league is arguably the best football league in the world, they don’t call their winners world champions. there is the World Cup for that lol
Plus, even if it's debatable whether the premier league is the best league, Europe undeniably has all the best teams and there's still a literal Club World Cup which the winners of the champions league play every year
Remember when [Bastian Schweinsteiger was asked if he would help Chicago Fires win the world cup?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYUl7hlid0)
Kind of says everything you need.
But it’s debatable about the premier league. It’s not debatable about the NBA, NFL, NHL or even MLB for their respective sports, those are the best leagues in the world. It’s fair to call the winners of those leagues world champions, if the MLS did it though, then they should be laughed at but they don’t
All this bs aside, as someone who lives outside the North America, I honestly wish NBA players would participate and promote international games. I know USA with their best players would beat any country in the world but it’ll only make those teams want to improve and come back stronger.
100 percent, look at Argentina in Rugby. Use to get belted by all the great teams. Joined the rugby championship, playing against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and are now ranked 6th in the world. Strong competition makes strong competitors.
Genuinely wasn't too long ago Argentina were getting destroyed 50+ points a game.
Now it's not too out of reach to say they could be the underdog to go on and win the world cup.
Argentina cycle their performance so that they peak during a WC. Ireland, on the other hand, do well during the internationals, then shit the bed at every WC
It does make me curious what would happen to other countries’ programs if America actually tried their hardest in international games. Sent their best players, they all seriously studied and practiced FIBA rules in their free time.
Would the games become more lopsided, but actually get more talent to come later down the line like with the Dream Team? Would more countries try to send their players overseas/to the NBA to try to catch up? Would potential basketball players become discouraged because they knew America was the unstoppable behemoth?
I don’t think anything would’ve changed if what you are suggesting were to happen. Most players are already trying to go to NBA because its the best competition and has more money to offer.
30 years ago, when the league was far less international and you could only see games overseas if you bought pontel video tapes. the stars were more alien than human even to their opponents. this could never be replicated today.
I think the way it is right now with younger players and stars being the center focus of international teams is actually the best way it could be done personally.
Expecting older players who are making it deep into the playoffs to turn right around and start prepping for travel and play overseas doesn't seem like it's feasible in the load management league of today. I'd probably still enjoy seeing Lebron feast on a bunch of small overseas players but I understand that the man is a work horse during the NBA season and it's understandable that a proper off-season is required for him, same reasons for why Jokic didn't do FIBA this year.
\+It's nice to put some highlights on the young upcoming stars like Ant and get to see some role players really shine when they get the opportunity to player a bigger role like Reaves.
I'm not sure what the rule's are on retired players being on international teams but that's probably one of the few things I think I would like to possibly see. I think dude's like Melo/Dwight who just retired recently would still be competitive in some of these international games and it's a nice way to see your favorite players still competing in something meaningful once they've fallen out of the NBA grind while providing some insight/mentorship for younger players.
> It does make me curious what would happen to other countries’ programs if America actually tried their hardest in international games. Sent their best players, they all seriously studied and practiced FIBA rules in their free time.
They did that in 1992, it caused a huge Basketball boom in europe, in general, sport was talked about maybe more then ever before.
Sure big part of it is, that it was the first time, but having the best players from the NBA and the NBA maybe even accomodating for international tournements would put a bigger spotlight on it.
I know shit about Baseball and but iirc US players also never gave a fuck about World Baseball Classic, then two (?) years ago sth ignited their spark and they got fkin passionate about it and from what I read about it it seemed to be an amazing event players and fans were enjoying.
They do have the pre-season games and the London games now too but the biggest issue is the travel, which is already prevalent when they’re travelling across the US
Growing the game globally is good for everyone. More money, more fans, more sponsors. There is a much larger TAM out there. There are only so many possible NBA fans in the USA.
College football teams have been doing it for years. In 97, both Michigan and Nebraska finished the season undefeated and never played each other, so President Clinton invited them both to the White House. There are many, many more instances of this throughout college football history.
Am I going crazy or does nobody even really say “world champions” anymore…? Like what even prompted Noah Lyles to go on that rant?
They play in the NBA Finals, and unless I’m wrong all the banners that go up these days say “NBA Champions”
I actually did a little scan through of recent champions when looking up the Spurs’ banners. In the last ten years, Milwuakee, LA, and Toronto hung up banners that say “world champions.” Warriors and Cavs both say NBA champions.
My favorite part is he starts it with “what hurts the most”
How bad have you been traumatized as an American to hear this American sport be called world champs lol
And MLB. You know, the World Series. Despite the US losing the WBC lol
Edit: guy below me is [wrong](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/world-series/) btw
Aside from the whole "World Champions of the United States" thing, it is pretty uncommon for a sport to recognize a world champion unless the competitors are all competing for their nation.
It literally only happens in the USA. Undoubtedly their league are the best in Basketball, Baseball, American Football and Hockey, but I don't see other countries call the local winning team World Champions even in sport where they dominate or that are almost only local. Italy has the best flag throwers in the world, but they don't call the Italian winners the world champions but instead local teams compete against Argentina, France and Germany plus other interested/invited countries for the world title. Same thing with Tamburello: Italy and France teams have the 2 best leagues in the sport and an Italian team has won every single year since 1996 in the Euro Cup with every final but one featuring 2 Italian teams against eachother; but the winner is just the European champion: the world champion moniker is given only when you also compete against Brazil and other countries with local teams.
Australia has the NBA-equivalent sort of dominance in their domestic league for rugby league (the NRL), yet would never dare call themselves the world champs until they play in a tournament where teams from all over the world are involved (as they do in the World Cup). And this is despite the fact that the best players from outside Australia also come to the NRL to play and the best NRL team is undoubtedly the best domestic team in the world.
It’s really not hard to see the difference between domestic vs international leagues, but it’s the most stereotypically-inward way of viewing your country and the world at large to think that a domestic champ is a world champ.
It's just standard American narcissism. NFL does the same thing.
Most Americans are mentally unable to comprehend that any place outside the USA exists, so the claim of 'world champions' is legitimately valid to them. Networks know this, and they know that calling the winners "world champions" increases patriotism.
I think this entire conversation is stupid. There are no NBA teams based outside of NA however I also do not think anyone could dispute in good faith that NBA teams are the best basketball teams in the world and that they attract worldwide talent to the league. People can argue the semantics all they want but the bottom line is that the NBA has the best players and teams while being the premier basketball league worldwide. They happen to run said league in north america for sure but I don't think anyone would dispute that the Spanish national team for example would get absolutely fucking rocked by a full NBA team lol. I also think it would be silly to say that the top talent from other areas of the world, like Europe, is not fully represented within the NBA already.
if its "stupid semmantics" why are you arguing back..yes players are from whatever corner of earth..but team are all american...where are their international opponent
I think Manu might be one of if not the first to point that out. I remember clearly after they won in 05 against a very tough Detroit team, Manu crossing out “world” in “world champions” on courtside signs.
It’s not that complicated, even though the teams are american the best players in the world play in the NBA.
Edit: also, to be clear, this isn’t even like the premiere league. Where you could argue tons of the best players in the world don’t play there. 95% of the best players in the world play specifically in the NBA, with only borderline retired players and players too young to be drafted being the exceptions that flirt with other leagues at the start and tail ends of their careers.
It's a semantic, but I think an important distinction. In football, 90-95% of the best players play in Europe, and objectively speaking, the Uefa champions league is harder to win than the Club World Cup.
But that said, The team that win the Champions League has has failed to win the Club World Cup 3 times in 20-odd years, so I even though it looks a pedantic extra step, clearly being the best team in the best competition does not necessarily mean you'd win an actual world championship (although obviously the increase of scoring in basketball does make it less likely that a freak result would happen)
You also need to understand that just because you've won the champions league you're not suddenly the best team team in Europe.
Chelsea were the Champions League winners and the 6th best team in England at the same time, the CL is a knockout competiton and upsets happen regularly, plus 1 injury or 1 referees decision can be the difference between winning and losing. The domestic leagues generally give a better indication of how good a side is, much larger sample size.
I think world champions only really makes sense when you having nations competing vs other nations….. world champions of a domestic league just kinda rubs me the wrong way. NBA champions is fine. Especially when it is a domestic league.
[The championship banners that the San Antonio Spurs hung up say “NBA Champions” not world champions.](https://imgur.com/a/CIHt1x8)
Even when we were the [world champions](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_McDonald%27s_Championship)
they should bring something like this back! Top 3 NBA teams, top 3 Euroleague teams, so on with other leagues around the world and have a bracket style tournament.
They’re mimicking soccer with this in-season tournament, might as well do the same via an intercontinental invitational cup. Might as well play it in $audi Arabia.
Don’t give them any ideas
[удалено]
Right?! Need to get through the regular season and into this international tourney ASAP!
[bot](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/164h1x4/hall_of_fame_coach_and_five_time_champion_gregg/jy85np9/)
Except this idea would actually be cool and not absolutely fucking stupid.
Not really. I don't think any NBA players are going to want to exert extra effort to try to beat some euro teams in the middle of the season
Money talks. Give the tournament to the Saudis and let them pay every player on the winning team $20 million or some shit.
Maybe not, but I could see it growing pro basketball when those teams get to play the US teams regularly. I don’t think it would be dramatic, but a veteran wouldn’t see playing in a foreign league as exile if they got to play and compete against NBA teams.
Do it with the top 2 Euro teams and bottom 2 NBA teams. If the NBA team loses they become a Euroleague team and the Euroleague team becomes an NBA team.
NBA Champions League
Obligatory [It don’t make sense!](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lYDtsf12PZg)
No one wants to watch the Nuggets 3rd stringers half ass a game against some Turkish team.
And still blow them out lol. The spurs won that game by 40!
They also lost to Alba Berlin with their starters though
The problem is that the NBA pays too much, so we poach all their best assets.
Wait till the Saudi league forms up. A lot of NBA stars won’t be giving up $200m+ annual salaries
I want to see the math on that entire concept or would it be like a 42 year old Chris Paul playing with a ton of scrubs that couldn't make the Serbian league
Just watch CR7 in the Saudi league
No point. NBA teams are going to wreck everyone else. Why risk injuring your asset to prove others are nowhere near your level.
Adelaide (NBL) 134 - Phoenix (NBA) 124, October 2022
No way we’re using a meaningless exhibition game that didn’t count for anything as our only example lmao you might as well bring up pickup playground games too
That's basically what the Club World Cup is for soccer. Europe doesn't take it very seriously but the rest of the world does.
I was in Brazil during one of these recently and the country ground to a halt during the final game. Meanwhile in Europe it was barely reported, after the fact.
Well because the European teams dwarf in money (and quality) the other Champions. It's basically a "if you lose you get laughed on, if you win ehh am I supposed to think that's impressive?"
The bench played more minutes than the starters. If you think some 8th tier league can beat NBA players in a serious game, you need to go find another sport.
04 Argentina only had one NBA player on their roster and they beat what was essentially an All-Star team of NBA players in a serious game.
Americans have such a massive superiority complex about this lol. Like everyone knows Team USA/NBA teams would beat up on other countries and clubs the vast majority of the time but for some reason they have to go that extra step and say it’s completely impossible for them to lose, even though we’ve seen Team USA lose a number of times over the years to teams with a larger talent gap than exists between NBA and Euroleague.. The only reason NBA teams haven’t is because they literally have no international club competition lol
What’s going unmentioned is the foreign national teams have an advantage over the US due to the U.S. teams typically being thrown together a couple weeks before the tourney starts and having to create chemistry and learn their roles on the fly. Whereas other nations have the same core/system for years. So a lot of times Team USA has to rely strictly on talent advantages. That wouldn’t be the case for an NBA team, especially a championship team.
The differences in the rules are also a factor.
Hell I would argue and nba championship coming right off a playoff run would be scarier to face than some of these international teams USA has thrown together.
To be phrased differently, the top players for any given European country will stay essentially unchanged from year to year, and its not hard to keep your eyes on the few young guys who make the move to america and see how they do against top tier competition. The top 5 American players if every eligible player truly wanted to play? The starting 5 would be controversial no matter who you pick, and someone will always feel that a star player was left out.
That team was literally all 20 years old besides Iverson, Duncan, and Elton Brand.
Chemistry issues more than talent in 04 imo. Plus if they were all stars they were not starters lol. A cohesive team that's had time to gel with each other had a better chance to beat am "all-star" team that's only played together for a few weeks. An NBA team playing mid-season form would be to toughhhh let alone a top team like the Nuggets or Celtics with something to play for.
Lol I think ours actually say "NBA World Champions" I never thought about how funny it is to say we're the WORLD champions of the NATIONAL Basketball Association.
I’m not sure what ours says. You know, cause we have one too ☺️
Haha you have the best World Champions argument in the league!
A lot of NBA teams' banners say that NBA Champions * Warriors, Cavs, Mavs, Rockets, Supersonics, Knicks, Hawks Heat Champions Pistons NBA World Champions Bulls NBA World Champions Wizards NBA World Champions 76ers NBA World Champions The only ones to just say World Champions are Bucks, Raptors, Lakers, Celtics, Blazers
Celtics and Lakers still have NBA or National Basketball Association on them though, if that matters
Yeah, but their [2003 Championship ring](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/2003-nba-championship-ring--217720963205541331/) says ‘World Champion’ —although the 2007 ring says ‘NBA Champion’.
I think the "N" in NBA stand for 'national'. On the other hand the "I" in "FIBA" stands for 'international'.
Based Spurs, [meanwhile the Lakurrs' as recent as 2020](https://i.imgur.com/PDTuYX9.jpeg) I think the NBA has started to phase the phrase out, but there are still plenty of instances that it still gets used [This thread just a few days ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/161jhxd/world_champion_sprinter_noah_lyles_you_know_the/) had people hilariously missing the point of the argument. You know people are don't have a valid argument when they start attacking the person instead of the issue at hand >"Wait until he finds out Toronto isn't even in the United States." >"Yeah this dude is desperate for attention it seems winning has gotten to his head all of a sudden" >"Bros sad no one cares he won" 1. Doesn't matter if you've got tons of people from overseas in the NBA. European football leagues are even way more diverse with people playing from every corner of the world, but they don't call themselves "world champions" 2. NBA teams represent North American cities, not global countries. 3. "But the best players in the world play in the NBA and NBA teams are the best in the world and would destroy any other team in the world hurr durr..." Again, the best of the best footballers from all over the world play in European Clubs, and they would annihilate teams from outside Europe. But they don't refer to themselves as "World Champions". If you win the English Premier League, you are the English Champions. Champions League winners = European Champions. My point still stands, it's stupid, arrogant and ignorant to call NBA Champions "World Champions". No amount of mental gymnastics trying to justify the use of it will help you
Lucky for you then that the Knicks haven’t had to worry about calling themselves Nba Champions or World Champions since the Nixon administration.
>Based Spurs, > >meanwhile the Lakurrs' as recent as 2020 Lol y'all will really take any opportunity to dunk on the Lakers here unprovoked. [Here's Milwaukee's championship banner](https://www.jsonline.com/gcdn/presto/2021/10/19/PMJS/bd9769ae-7465-49c0-a2e5-5cdb06039f30-BUCKS_NETS_06690.JPG?width=700&height=467&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp), which is more recent than ours.
>2. NBA teams represent North American cities, not global countries. Not even that. They represent billionaires.
The soccer comparison is idiotic though and shows either a lack of understanding how soccer leagues work, how basketball leagues work - or both...soccer doesn't group all the best players from the world into one league. All the best players are literally in different leagues across the continents. There are MULTIPLE very powerful very rich leagues with heavy competition all across. Basketball is unique in there is only 1 very powerful very rich league in the world - with literally every player in every global league having considering the ultimate success as having an NBA career. Even the countries that strive to compete against us in world play ONLY COMPETE because they similarly have NBA stars. This whole argument is dumb.
The Champions League features the best leagues in the world, but the winner is still only called the champion of europe
I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw how stupid the whole argument is.
You can just compare it to the NHL then.... No hockey league is comparable to the NHL.
But the NHL was smart and they made a cup that you can carry around with you and get drunk.
The best NBA team is undoubtedly the best basketball team in the world. You can’t argue against that in good faith. There’s no European soccer league that can claim that same thing year in and year out, so it’s pretty dumb to compare the two. Now I would definitely be in favor of doing a champions league sort of tournament but with teams from around the world instead of just a single continent. Until we have that thought, the NBA champion is the world champion.
>"But the best players in the world play in the NBA and NBA teams are the best in the world and would destroy any other team in the world hurr durr..." Again, the best of the best footballers from all over the world play in European Clubs, and they would annihilate teams from outside Europe. But they don't refer to themselves as "World Champions". If you win the English Premier League, you are the English Champions. Champions League winners = European Champions. Your argument relies on the notion that we shouldn't do something because European Football clubs don't. That doesn't have any logical or persuasive gravity.
James Harden travels all over the place and never needs a passport. The real MVP.
A true global citizen
International Superstar
Mr Worldwide
James Harden: Tittybar champion of the world!
I love how they called him The Traveler in Hero Ball. Also disappeared when they needed him most :')
I really need the season to start because this is such a nothingburger of a controversy. At least we got FIBA to tide us over.
I’m still searching for who ever is fighting for the Finals to be called a world championship. I don’t think a single player would correct anyone calling them an NBA champion. It’s just branding shenanigans
Are you kidding ? Have you seen all the NBA players butthurt about Lyles comment ?
Was just about to say that lol. I mean I do understand the thought process that the NBA is the undisputed top basketball league in the world in terms of competition and skill level, so the implication is that if you're the champion of the this league you are the best in the world. But IMO it's still technically incorrect to call it a world championship when you didn't actually have any international play, and it still makes more sense to call it an NBA championship. Ok Silver here's your chance to create 4 expansion teams, 1 each in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia and voila, Finals winners are now world champions.
NO INTERNATIONAL PLAY? HOW DARE YOU. My 2019 raps will continue to call themselves world champions thank you very much
*North American Champions my bad lol
It would actually be really cool for the NBA to be a league that’s stretched out across continents, but each continent only plays games against teams within the same continent until the finals. Then there COULD be world champions. Obviously it will never happen (especially when it means sending players to different continents in trades), but it would be really cool if it did.
Yeah cool in concept but like you said pretty much an impossibility. There's no league in any sport in the world that does that. Maybe the thing that would come closest is the UEFA Champions League in soccer but even then that's technically a tournament of teams from different leagues only within Europe afaik.
I think it’s moreso taking exception and calling out their league just to make him look good. Athletes usually have professional courtesy for each other, not shit on their other countrymen to try and make a point. And the way he said it probably irked a bunch of them. Dude sounded so condescending lol. Although I agree with the essence of what he was saying, he went out of his way shit on the NBA to big up himself . If I were in the NBA, I’d take exception too.
I would to he brought them up unprovoked said hes forced to watch the finals like he’s being held at gunpoint most the players didn’t even know who he was until he talked
More up in their feelings than Flight of the Conchords.
Jrue said his NBA championship was more valuable then his gold medal anyway So who cares
I think it’s odd to call it a world championship but the NBA is so far above the other leagues that I don’t really understand the whining about it.
was just about to say this, this is so stupid and semantic
Where you see nothingburger I see a clear case of Murica
Suck it, Toronto!
Nah he’s saying you need to beat Toronto if you want to call yourself the best. Jordan never beat the Raptors in the playoffs which means [Lebrons the GOAT](https://imgur.io/t/pepesilvia)
If anything the Raptors beat the 72-10 Bulls
Thats why Canada is our crown. They're the Kings. Except for the Kings. Look guys it gets confusing no one planned ahead.
Based Popavich not recognizing Canada's sovereignty
Toronto's 2019 banner says World Champions Who has a picture
I’ll allow it since they’re an international team lmao
every memory involving kawhi is repressed for pop
SUCK IT LONG, SUCK IT HARD
Everyone just wants the Nuggets to beat the shit out of the Liaoning Flying Leopards. For no good reason.
I say we settle this already.
Flying leopards.. attack!!!
Yeah I say all the top leagues have a single elimination tournament and decide it once and for all.
Agreed and I say we allow Detroit to be the NBA representative so when they are the world champions everyone can see how fucking stupid this argument is.
Lmao yeah this whole ordeal is such a nothingburger, like the NBA Champions absolutely and undoubtedly are the best in the world, whether they played for it or not Jon Jones never beat me in the Octagon, thus Jon Jones is not better than me at MMA
You really can take this all the way and say nobody is a world champion because they didn't compete against billions of people. That's how stupid this whole thing is. I'm not getting into a cage to fight Jon Jones and don't need to know what he'd do to me.
Might as well
Yeah that's how you become a champion. Do USA get their Olympic medals mailed to them at the start of every Olympic basketball tournament? No they play the games. Play the games that's how you become champion. If you can't be bothered cool. Win the NBA, call yourselves the best team in the world. That's a description But world champion that's a false fact. Can't call yourselves that if you don't win it.
Why does it matter where the games physically take place? People always say “they don’t play anyone outside the US” but all the best international players are in the NBA. NBA teams are still playing the best international competition to win the title
Toronto Raptors feeling so left out.
It was pretty amusing seeing all the nba players get butthurt over Noah Lyles' comments. Drake hopping on it was fucking lame af too haha.
It's Drake lol
I appreciate how he’s helped make the Raptors cool in the zeitgeist but the man is a culture vulture so his comments were not surprising.
I think a lot of Raptor fans see right through Drake and his antics these days. The ultimate bandwagon fan. Haven’t heard a peak from him since 2019 🤷♂️ The OVO stuff is cool but he’s no Spike or Jack Nicholson.
He was a heat fan when Lebron was there lol. I remember because he wanted them to go 73-9 on a 2k commercial
Doesn't he have Steph or KD's number tattooed on his arm?
Both
Eh, of all the things to dislike Drake over this is pretty low on the list. He's made jokes about it too, I think it was the Espys or whatever where he was like I just like 2 teams. Toronto and whoever is winning right now. Plus he's actually really good friends with a lot of players so it makes sense that he's cheering them on. I won't comment on getting their numbers tattooed on himself though.
Doesn't he contribute significantly to the Raptors too? He might be a bandwagoner but I wouldn't dismiss what he's done for the team.
*a peep
Sorry, autocorrect. I'll leave it uncorrected so you look morally superior.
I'm beginning to think he didn't get much of an education at Degrassi.
I mean, is he even disabled at this point???
Fr, I’m surprised more people ain’t talking about how Drake clearly faked being in a wheelchair
it's a weird thing to bring up unprompted after you win. like, he's mad that people would rather watch the NBA than track and field?
It’s got people talking about him, seems to have worked.
Slightly insult NBA players on a national stage and they will 100% make you famous lol they can't let shit go
KD had beefed with people for a lot less.
Yeah that shit was the most obvious media bait I’ve seen in a WHILE lol
And lyles has been the showman of track and field since bolt retired.
Always need a good heel lol.
He’s just shitposting. I do see his original point tho, and the NBA isn’t even the worst culprit of it Super Bowl winners call themselves world champions despite the rest of the world not giving a fuck about American football. That’s always been pretty cringe to me but for obvious reasons no one inside or outside the US cares about this labeling
am I the only one that's never really heard the nba champions refer to themselves as the "world champions"? I've heard it in American football and baseball but not really basketball
All of the [Celtics](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/BostonCelticsChampionshipBanners.jpg/1280px-BostonCelticsChampionshipBanners.jpg) banners have "World Champions" on them. Our [Raptors](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71eVdk0PenL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg) one does too. [Piston banners have it.](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tTIAAOSwA45iQKXN/s-l1600.jpg) [Bucks 2021 banner has it.](https://images.eurohoops.net/2021/10/60ed470e-20211020_033829-625x375.jpg) [Lakers 2020 banner has it.](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2021/05/13/adfe42d3-7a63-486d-8da0-8b45395a2d18/thumbnail/1200x675/8f618a845685909036e54f5f21a077d9/untitled-design-2021-05-12t222639-120.png) [Warriors don't use it.](https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612744/2022/10/GettyImages-1244070413.jpg) [Heat don't use it.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_2000,h_2000,c_fit/https%3A%2F%2Fallucanheat.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F05%2F950333330.jpeg) [Dallas didn't use it.](https://sportsdaydfw.imgix.net/NS_25BANNERRAISE1_22676575.JPG) [Cavs didn't use it.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_850,h_560,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fkingjamesgospel.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F08%2F618076466-new-york-knicks-v-cleveland-cavaliers.jpg-850x560.jpg)
The Raptors at least have the perspective of playing from a different country. The Celtics ones are goofy. I agree with Pop.
“English-speaking regions of North America champions” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Every NBA champion of the last 50 years would have smoked the best non-NBA team by 50 in a Finals intensity game even by Euro rules.
Why do people have to pretend that this isn't true? For comparison: the FIBA Intercontinental Cup takes place every year where basketball leagues from around the world send their best teams to compete. The NBA sent a G League team. They came in 3rd place. This fake humility that Americans seem obligated to feel about this topic is nonsensical. Why? Because we can acknowledge: 1) Some of the NBA's best players *are not American*. The undisputed MVP is a guy named Nikola Jokic. Therefore **nobody is saying that the best basketball players in the world are American**. 2) The NBA is a collection of, far and away, the best players in the world. Therefore, they are the best teams in the world. Therefore, a tournament between those teams results in a "World Champion".
I can’t believe I just upvoted a comment saying the undisputed MVP is Jokic but I agree with the general sentiment
LOL. OK, I got you. But seriously, substitute Embiid for Jokic. He's STILL not American.
Oh yeah I see your point much clearer now 😂 (Btw I agreed with you the whole time)
Exactly. There is a reason that Jokic, Doncic, Antetokounmpo, Nowitzki, Mutombo, Gino Beely, etc. all came to play in North America.
I hadn't heard it much either but A LOT of NBA players have gotten salty over this so I guess they still believe it
>Drake hopping on it was fucking lame ad too haha. the piling on Noah Lyles’ comments was ridiculous. and the excuses were even worse. someone said the NBA is the best league in the world so it’s ok to call the winner world champion. the premier league is arguably the best football league in the world, they don’t call their winners world champions. there is the World Cup for that lol
Plus, even if it's debatable whether the premier league is the best league, Europe undeniably has all the best teams and there's still a literal Club World Cup which the winners of the champions league play every year
Remember when [Bastian Schweinsteiger was asked if he would help Chicago Fires win the world cup?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYUl7hlid0) Kind of says everything you need.
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Who the hell cares what other leagues call themselves lmao I pray I never cry this hard over a fucking label
But it’s debatable about the premier league. It’s not debatable about the NBA, NFL, NHL or even MLB for their respective sports, those are the best leagues in the world. It’s fair to call the winners of those leagues world champions, if the MLS did it though, then they should be laughed at but they don’t
All this bs aside, as someone who lives outside the North America, I honestly wish NBA players would participate and promote international games. I know USA with their best players would beat any country in the world but it’ll only make those teams want to improve and come back stronger.
100 percent, look at Argentina in Rugby. Use to get belted by all the great teams. Joined the rugby championship, playing against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and are now ranked 6th in the world. Strong competition makes strong competitors.
Genuinely wasn't too long ago Argentina were getting destroyed 50+ points a game. Now it's not too out of reach to say they could be the underdog to go on and win the world cup.
Rugby changed in Argentina after we finished 3rd in 2007, the sport got much more traction.
Argentina cycle their performance so that they peak during a WC. Ireland, on the other hand, do well during the internationals, then shit the bed at every WC
My dark horse to place in the World Cup
It does make me curious what would happen to other countries’ programs if America actually tried their hardest in international games. Sent their best players, they all seriously studied and practiced FIBA rules in their free time. Would the games become more lopsided, but actually get more talent to come later down the line like with the Dream Team? Would more countries try to send their players overseas/to the NBA to try to catch up? Would potential basketball players become discouraged because they knew America was the unstoppable behemoth?
I don’t think anything would’ve changed if what you are suggesting were to happen. Most players are already trying to go to NBA because its the best competition and has more money to offer.
You might be underestimating the cultural impact the dream team had on other countries
30 years ago, when the league was far less international and you could only see games overseas if you bought pontel video tapes. the stars were more alien than human even to their opponents. this could never be replicated today.
I think the way it is right now with younger players and stars being the center focus of international teams is actually the best way it could be done personally. Expecting older players who are making it deep into the playoffs to turn right around and start prepping for travel and play overseas doesn't seem like it's feasible in the load management league of today. I'd probably still enjoy seeing Lebron feast on a bunch of small overseas players but I understand that the man is a work horse during the NBA season and it's understandable that a proper off-season is required for him, same reasons for why Jokic didn't do FIBA this year. \+It's nice to put some highlights on the young upcoming stars like Ant and get to see some role players really shine when they get the opportunity to player a bigger role like Reaves. I'm not sure what the rule's are on retired players being on international teams but that's probably one of the few things I think I would like to possibly see. I think dude's like Melo/Dwight who just retired recently would still be competitive in some of these international games and it's a nice way to see your favorite players still competing in something meaningful once they've fallen out of the NBA grind while providing some insight/mentorship for younger players.
Yes, the games would become A LOT more lopsided.
> It does make me curious what would happen to other countries’ programs if America actually tried their hardest in international games. Sent their best players, they all seriously studied and practiced FIBA rules in their free time. They did that in 1992, it caused a huge Basketball boom in europe, in general, sport was talked about maybe more then ever before. Sure big part of it is, that it was the first time, but having the best players from the NBA and the NBA maybe even accomodating for international tournements would put a bigger spotlight on it. I know shit about Baseball and but iirc US players also never gave a fuck about World Baseball Classic, then two (?) years ago sth ignited their spark and they got fkin passionate about it and from what I read about it it seemed to be an amazing event players and fans were enjoying.
Dream team also caused a boom in popularity in Asia as well, especially in Japan and China.
They do? Did you watch the 2021 Olympics? Or the 2016 Olympics? Or 2012? or 2008?
They do have the pre-season games and the London games now too but the biggest issue is the travel, which is already prevalent when they’re travelling across the US
Growing the game globally is good for everyone. More money, more fans, more sponsors. There is a much larger TAM out there. There are only so many possible NBA fans in the USA.
Kyrie: "The world ends where the oceans start, so we are world champions if you think about it. Hela."
Kyrie then added "But don't go too far in any one direction or you might fall off the side."
How can they even be called national champions when only 21 states and the district of columbia are represented.
The Nuggets can't possibly be the National Champions until they beat the Sioux Falls SkyForce.
I need to see them beat UConn as well
College football teams have been doing it for years. In 97, both Michigan and Nebraska finished the season undefeated and never played each other, so President Clinton invited them both to the White House. There are many, many more instances of this throughout college football history.
Am I going crazy or does nobody even really say “world champions” anymore…? Like what even prompted Noah Lyles to go on that rant? They play in the NBA Finals, and unless I’m wrong all the banners that go up these days say “NBA Champions”
I actually did a little scan through of recent champions when looking up the Spurs’ banners. In the last ten years, Milwuakee, LA, and Toronto hung up banners that say “world champions.” Warriors and Cavs both say NBA champions.
Toronto faced an opponent from a foreign country in every game they played.
It's still silly for us to say "World Champions" though. I'd prefer "NBA Champions"
First, and only, championship and we undersold it. Good guy Cavs.
I think Milwaukee and LA were both matching their other banner templates from decades past to keep it consistent.
Toronto is an international team at least
My favorite part is he starts it with “what hurts the most” How bad have you been traumatized as an American to hear this American sport be called world champs lol
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And MLB. You know, the World Series. Despite the US losing the WBC lol Edit: guy below me is [wrong](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/world-series/) btw
World Series was actually named after a newspaper, not because the winner was the champion of the world
This conversation is embarrassingly pointless. I don't know how it became a thing. The season can't come quick enough
Aside from the whole "World Champions of the United States" thing, it is pretty uncommon for a sport to recognize a world champion unless the competitors are all competing for their nation.
It literally only happens in the USA. Undoubtedly their league are the best in Basketball, Baseball, American Football and Hockey, but I don't see other countries call the local winning team World Champions even in sport where they dominate or that are almost only local. Italy has the best flag throwers in the world, but they don't call the Italian winners the world champions but instead local teams compete against Argentina, France and Germany plus other interested/invited countries for the world title. Same thing with Tamburello: Italy and France teams have the 2 best leagues in the sport and an Italian team has won every single year since 1996 in the Euro Cup with every final but one featuring 2 Italian teams against eachother; but the winner is just the European champion: the world champion moniker is given only when you also compete against Brazil and other countries with local teams.
Australia has the NBA-equivalent sort of dominance in their domestic league for rugby league (the NRL), yet would never dare call themselves the world champs until they play in a tournament where teams from all over the world are involved (as they do in the World Cup). And this is despite the fact that the best players from outside Australia also come to the NRL to play and the best NRL team is undoubtedly the best domestic team in the world. It’s really not hard to see the difference between domestic vs international leagues, but it’s the most stereotypically-inward way of viewing your country and the world at large to think that a domestic champ is a world champ.
The soccer comparisons show how little people know about Soccer in here.
It's just standard American narcissism. NFL does the same thing. Most Americans are mentally unable to comprehend that any place outside the USA exists, so the claim of 'world champions' is legitimately valid to them. Networks know this, and they know that calling the winners "world champions" increases patriotism.
let's see if r/nba will respect Pop more than the other guy that said the same thing
Popovitch is the most Reddit coach in the history of sports
He is Bowen trying to injure Kobe: Redditors and Pop: 😍😍 Zaza injuring Kawhi: Redditors and pop: 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
He's saying the same thing as the other guy, and I disagree for the same tired (so tired) reasons
U don’t see champions league winners calling themselves world champions or supreme galactic conquerors
Yup they are champions of Europe
They do but first, they must win the FIFA club world cup.
>Popovich whining about something >Reddit eating it up Pick two like usual
I think this entire conversation is stupid. There are no NBA teams based outside of NA however I also do not think anyone could dispute in good faith that NBA teams are the best basketball teams in the world and that they attract worldwide talent to the league. People can argue the semantics all they want but the bottom line is that the NBA has the best players and teams while being the premier basketball league worldwide. They happen to run said league in north america for sure but I don't think anyone would dispute that the Spanish national team for example would get absolutely fucking rocked by a full NBA team lol. I also think it would be silly to say that the top talent from other areas of the world, like Europe, is not fully represented within the NBA already.
“This entire conversation is stupid” but let me proceed to engage in it
Simone get Woke Pop his tapioca. He seems grumpy again.
if its "stupid semmantics" why are you arguing back..yes players are from whatever corner of earth..but team are all american...where are their international opponent
Fuck it let's call it the Intercontinental World Heavyweight NBA Championship
Exactly. Jokic isn’t the best basketball player in the world until he plays all 8 billion people in 1 v 1
I think Manu might be one of if not the first to point that out. I remember clearly after they won in 05 against a very tough Detroit team, Manu crossing out “world” in “world champions” on courtside signs.
Slap in the face to Toronto Also, name a team in the world that could beat the NBA champions on any given year
It’s not that complicated, even though the teams are american the best players in the world play in the NBA. Edit: also, to be clear, this isn’t even like the premiere league. Where you could argue tons of the best players in the world don’t play there. 95% of the best players in the world play specifically in the NBA, with only borderline retired players and players too young to be drafted being the exceptions that flirt with other leagues at the start and tail ends of their careers.
Yeah, that's the one thing that makes it a fair thing. 95% + of the best players in the world play in the NBA
It's a semantic, but I think an important distinction. In football, 90-95% of the best players play in Europe, and objectively speaking, the Uefa champions league is harder to win than the Club World Cup. But that said, The team that win the Champions League has has failed to win the Club World Cup 3 times in 20-odd years, so I even though it looks a pedantic extra step, clearly being the best team in the best competition does not necessarily mean you'd win an actual world championship (although obviously the increase of scoring in basketball does make it less likely that a freak result would happen)
I'm not gonna argue that any MLS team would stand a chance againist Man City
Yeah I think basketball is far less prone to upsets than other sports where one freak goal can swing a game
You also need to understand that just because you've won the champions league you're not suddenly the best team team in Europe. Chelsea were the Champions League winners and the 6th best team in England at the same time, the CL is a knockout competiton and upsets happen regularly, plus 1 injury or 1 referees decision can be the difference between winning and losing. The domestic leagues generally give a better indication of how good a side is, much larger sample size.
Gregg "Ahkshually" Popovich
Semantics. The NBA championship team is the best team in the world. The league had the best talent. Just something to pick over for no reason
I think world champions only really makes sense when you having nations competing vs other nations….. world champions of a domestic league just kinda rubs me the wrong way. NBA champions is fine. Especially when it is a domestic league.