San Antonio became one of the most aspiringly global sports franchises in North America and they were very successful at what they did. In a game against the Miami Heat the Spurs' played nine players from outside of the USA. In an interview with the general manager he says that, "All I think we've done is we've looked at basketball players and not tried to put a border to them," said R.C. Buford, the Spurs' general manager. "Let's not worry where they're from, let's worry about how they play and what their character is and their interest in being part of a team." Longman, J (2002, 0ctober 14) "Globalization Sweeps Away Misgivings About Foreign Teammates" The New York Times pp. A2-A4. The Spurs' success both clinches the globalization of sports and encourages other NBA. teams to follow it. Since the Spurs decided to go along and recruit players internationally, the NBA. finals were available for viewing in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages. I know people were happy to see that. .
This brings me to my next point in my paper which deals with distribution of games through broadcasting and web. Before players came to the US and played for the NBA, the fan base and people watching wasn't many. According to "The New Yorker", NBA.'s ratings dropped in the years after Michael Jordan's retirement. Ever since that happened the game seem less exciting to the viewers. Thanks to new talent that part of the NBA has improved. Over the years they picked up Jeremy Lin. He is league's first American-born player of Taiwanese background. Riches,S (2006, October7) "Basketball and Globalization" The New Yorker pp B2-B4. In the year of 2002 when Yao Ming was drafted to the Houston Rockets, that added thirty million Houston Rockets Fans to the team and at that time they only one million viewers watching in the US. (The New Yorker pB2). More than Four hundred million people globally follow the NBA on social media networks and Television.