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How to play international basketball


How to Play Basketball Overseas - Step by Step Guide

The goal of any athlete is to make a living playing the sport they love. In basketball, if you don’t make it to the NBA or the NBA G League, there are hundreds of other leagues around the world where you can live out your dreams of making good money playing basketball. This step-by-step guide will break down the steps on how to play basketball overseas.

Table of Contents

Step 1:

Play at the highest level in your home country

How to play basketball overseas for Americans image by EuroProBasket

You need experience playing at the highest level to get the most interest from teams overseas. So your goal should be to make it to the top level wherever you are currently living and playing.

American Players

Ncaa D1 – Teams overseas know that there is a ranking system in the USA that has Ncaa D1 at the top followed by Ncaa D2 and Ncaa D3. NAIA is still not completely clear to a lot of teams overseas but can still provide good experience.

Canadian USPORTS is becoming more known to teams across the pond. The Canadian NBL is a great option for quality experience.

Juco and high school experience is usually not enough to get serious interest from teams overseas. That is if you are not ranked in the nation such as LaMelo Ball or Brandon Jennings. Go for a 4 year University program at the highest level possible.

AAU and shoe sponsored club teams will help you get exposure to Universities but will rarely get you enough exposure to get overseas.

If your time has passed with University eligibility or it’s just not for you, the best option is getting on a semi-pro team. Make sure you read the last section of the article if you fall under this category.

International Players

Club Teams – For International players, this is the only way to play basketball competitively. Work to get on the best club team in your city or town.

Junior National Team – Your goal should be to play for your country’s national team. The senior team would be the ultimate goal but junior teams will get you exposure.

Step 2: Get Stats

Get stats – How to play basketball overseas image via EuroProBasket

If you go Ncaa D1 and don’t get any minutes, struggle to get stats, then you will also struggle to get interest from teams overseas.

Go D2 and be an All-American. That will get you great playing experience, and quality stats, which could lead to a professional contract.

NCAA, NAIA, USPORTS, international club teams and leagues; got those numbers up while adding value to your team.

Make sure you know where to locate your stats. Keep track of them and add them to your resume at the end of every season.

Step 3: Get Video

Game film is your way to show your talent, athleticism and decision making skills to teams around the world. Video is the 2nd step in your search of how to play basketball overseas.

One Highlight Per Season – Sum up every season you play with a highlight. Teams, coaches, agents…like to get a quick glimpse of how you move and shoot. This will peak their interest and get them to consider watching some of your full games.

Two Full Games per Season – This is pretty self explanatory but you need two full games per season played. this is a minimum. Some teams may ask for more. Make sure they are the best games you have played, both on offense and defense.

You should be in control of your own film. Make a YouTube channel, vimeo or sign up for another streaming service. Membership is free and you can upload as many videos as you want.

Acceptable Video – YOU Need to Read This

The quality of the competition is absolutely critical to getting a team overseas to watch your video. Low level and disorganized competition will not gain any attention from clubs overseas.

Open gyms, open runs, YMCA, Juco or high school is not high enough quality to get the interest from contacts overseas. You need to get the highest competition possible. Playing against adults in an organized competitive environment.

NCAA, NAIA, USPORTS are the best options for players from America. International players can use their country’s local competitions. The higher the level of competition the better.

Semi-Pro Leagues in the USA can be good options as well. Not all teams overseas will consider it but many will. It is important your team is organized and the competition is high level. Good effort on defense. Running organized sets and plays on offense.

Overseas Basketball Combine , exposure camps, and showcases in the USA will not get you a team’s interest. Take our word for it, or read this article for reasons why teams do not consider it a viable option to scout players.

More information on why USA overseas basketball combine film will not help you get overseas below.

Overseas Tour game film can work well due to the fact that you are usually playing overseas teams. Be selective on which tour you go on. If you take a tour to Latin America, don’t expect to use the film to help you get on a team in Europe.

Workout videos or clips of yourself working out will rarely get you anywhere. If you have some solid game film and you have had a few months off, it is possible that a team will want to see some workout film to make sure you are in shape. This is usually not the case though.

Mixtapes and slow-mo video clips are cool but not beneficial for coaches and scouts. It will get you some props from your friends and IG followers but will do nothing to get you signed.

EuroProBasket game film – Players in the EuroProBasket program play weekly games against European teams. The leagues that EuroProBasket team plays teams in are recognized around Spain and the rest of Europe. If you are asking yourself How to Play Basketball Overseas, we have your answer here in Valencia, Spain: Register to be part of EuroProBasket’s Professional Placement Program here.

Step 4: Get a Passport

Bosman A, Bosman B, Cotonou passports image via EuroProBasket

You cannot leave your country without a passport, with a few exceptions, which are not worth mentioning for this article.

You will need that passport to travel and on many occasions to register for an international team or league. Take care of that before you start your plans to go abroad.

Dual Citizenship and its Benefits in Overseas Basketball

You may have heard of players being dual citizens or having dual passports. This is one of the first things we recommend our players at EuroProBasket to look into.

If your parents were born in another country or have their citizenship in another country, you are eligible to receive yours as well.

You could possibly be eligible for another citizenship if your grandparents were born in another country. Do some research on your family’s historical background as it will greatly benefit you.

Why having dual citizenship is important?

If you have a European passport for example, you will be considered a European player instead of an import player. No visa is required to register you to a team and there are 3-5 times as many roster spots available for European Bosman A passport holders than there are for import players, or USA passport holders. 

If you have citizenship in a specific country, it doesn’t matter the country, and there is a professional basketball league in that country, you will most likely be considered a local player. This has many benefits and will prolong your professional playing and even coaching career indefinitely.

Bosman A – Bosman B – Cotonou – The Differences

Bosman A

These passports are for citizens of the European Union. There are 27 countries in the EU with a few exceptions that are added to the list of Bosman A players. This is arguably the most beneficial passport to have in overseas basketball. You can find some interesting information about the bosman ruling and how it changed European and Ncaa basketball here.

Bosman B

These passports are countries in Europe but excluded from the European Union. Most European leagues have roster spots reserved for players with these passports. Registration to the league is typically less expensive than an import players registration. Players will need a visa to play and work in the country in which the team is located.

Cotonou

These passports are from developing countries, or third world countries in Africa and many Island Nations. Many leagues in Europe (Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland,ect…) have roster spots specifically for these passport holders. Their registration fee to the league is cheaper for the team. They too need a visa to work and play in the country where the team is located. More about the cotonou agreement here.

Bosman A, Bosman B and Cotonou Countries Table

Bosman ABosman BCotonouCotonou cont…
Andorra (AND)Albania (ALB)Angola (ANG)Liberia (LIB)
Austria (AUT)Armenia (ARM)Anguilla (ANL)Macau (MAC)
Belgium (BEL)Azerbaijan (AZE)Antigua (ANT)Madagascar (MAD)
Bulgaria (BUL)Belarus (BLR)Aruba (ARU)Mali (MLI)
Croatia (CRO)Bosnia-Herzegovina (BIH)Bahamas (BAH)Marshall Islands (MAI)
Cyprus (CYP)Georgia (GEO)Barbados (BAR)Mauritania (MTN)
Czech Rep. (CZE)Gibraltar (GIB)Belize (BIZ)Mauritius Island (MAU)
Denmark (DEN)Israel (ISR)Botswana (BOT)Micronesia (MCR)
Estonia (EST)Moldova (MDA)Burkina Faso (BUR)Mozambique (MOZ)
Finland (FIN)Montenegro (MNT)Burundi (BDI)Namibia (NAM)
France (FRA)North Macedonia (MKD)Cameroon (CMR)Nauru (NRU)
Germany (GER)Russia (RUS)Cape Verde (CPV)Nigeria (NGR)
Greece (GRE)San Marino (SMR)Central Africa (CAF)Palau (PLW)
Holland (NED)Scotland (SCO)Chad (CHA)Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Hungary (HUN)Serbia (SRB)Cook Islands (COK)Rwanda (RWA)
Iceland (ISL)Switzerland (SUI)Cuba (CUB)Saint Kitts (SKN)
Ireland (IRL)Turkey (TUR)Dominica (DMA)Saint Lucia (SLA)
Italy (ITA)Ukraine (UKR)Dominican Rep. (DOM)St. Vincent & Grenadines (VIN)
Kosovo (KOS)United Kingdom (ENG)Eritrea (ERI)Samoa (SAM)
Latvia (LAT)Wales (WAL)Ethiopia (ETH)Senegal (SEN)
Lithuania (LTU)Fiji (FIJ)Seychelles (SEY)
Luxembourg (LUX)Gabon (GAB)Sierra Leone (SLE)
Malta (MLT)Gambia (GAM)Solomon Islands (SOL)
Norway (NOR)Ghana (GHA)South Africa (RSA)
Poland (POL)Grenada (GRN)Sudan (SUD)
Portugal (POR)Guam (GUM)Suriname (SUR)
Romania (ROM)Guinea (GUI)Tanzania (TAN)
Slovak Rep. (SVK)Guinea Bissau (GBS)Tonga (TGA)
Slovenia (SLO)Guyana (GUY)Trinidad and Tobago (TRI)
Spain (ESP)Haiti (HAI)Turks and Caicos (TKS)
Sweden (SWE)Ivory Coast (IVO)Uganda (UGA)
Jamaica (JAM)Vanuatu (VAN)
Kenya (KEN)Zambia (ZAM)
Lesotho (LES)Zimbabwe (ZIM)

Bosman A, Bosman B, Cotonou Countries List chart by EuroProBasket

Step 5: Make a Player Bio, CV or Resume

Player Resume – How to play basketball overseas image via EuroProBasket

  • Include Personal Information, picture playing or in a professional outfit
  • Include stats for every season, as detailed as possible as to not have team searching (remember teams and agents go through hundreds every week)
  • Add Highlight links and full game links so they are clickable
  • Add whatever accolades and achievements
  • Add references if you like
  • Save it in a pdf and have it on file so you can update it
  • Make it organized and professional looking
  • It only needs to be one or two pages
  • Leave out the self explanation, self scouting and NBA player comparison
  • Remember, less text is better, English is the 2nd, 3rd or 4th language of the person looking over your bio
  • Have it ready to send on your phone
  • We made an article specifically on how to make a basketball resume which can be found below.

Step 6: Network – How to Play Basketball Overseas
  • Use current contacts with coaches, trainers and teammates
  • Create and use social media accounts, most contacts abroad have facebook, linkedin and twitter. Some have instagram accounts.
  • Create your own website with all of your stats and video links if you can.

Step 7: Find an Agent – How To Play Basketball Overseas

A basketball agent will have the contacts to help you get your career started overseas. There is a lot you need to know about overseas agents though. We covered every detail in the article below.

Step 8: Best Opportunities to Play Overseas Basketball

Best opportunities to play overseas basketball image via EuroProBasket

Visit the country you want to play

You’ve attempted Steps 1 through 7 of how to play basketball overseas. You still don’t have a team. Here are your options.

If you want to play in Japan, go to Japan and present yourself to teams. It is a big risk and very expensive but If you can walk in a gym and tryout for a team it makes your chances much higher that the team will give you an opportunity to sign with them.

There are obvious downsides to this option. Many teams only allow a certain amount of import players. Higher level teams have specific needs and there is a chance that you are not that exact fit for the team.

Showcase or Exposure Camp

Showcases in the USA are hit or miss. More miss than hit. Too many players, un-organized open run type of basketball. Most teams cannot afford to send a coach or GM to the US to scout a group of players. It is much easier and less expensive for them to contact an agent for players with professional experience.

Live streams mean a busy person needs to take time out to watch, taken into account the time difference. Don’t fall for the gimmick many camps and combines in the USA try to sell to players.

Agent showcases can be a good option. Usually only the top one or two players will be interesting for the agency.

Basketball Academies & Overseas Tours

These options take more of an investment but what is a career in basketball worth to you? Put yourself in the middle of a country or region that you are interested in living and playing basketball.

Downsides to a tour is that it can be difficult to get a good rhythm and perform in just a week or 10 days. You don’t have much time to practice and get accustomed to your tour team. You will be moving from one location to nother with many hours of travel. Tours are really difficult to time as teams sign players at different times of the year, so when is the best week for the tour? Your guess is as good as theirs…

Some are organized and done by professionals, most are disorganized and can be very uncomfortable and in some cases scary.

A basketball academy is your best all around option. If you want the most legit shot at going pro then why not select the best basketball academy, with the longest history of helping players sign with teams in Europe? Located in the largest basketball facilities in Europe in collaboration with one of the biggest clubs in Europe. EuroProBasket will help you get to the next level.

The best and most secure opportunity to start your professional basketball career overseas is with EuroProBasket International Academy. Here are 21 reasons why.

Sign up for the most successful professional placement program here:

Essentials to Play Basketball Overseas

Essentials to play basketball overseas image via EuroProBasket

For many players these essentials to play basketball overseas will just be reminders. but still crucial to your success playing basketball overseas.

Complete Your Collegiate Playing Career
  • No one is going to deny that for an American player the most important and useful experience you can have is from a University basketball program.
  • There is no better place to get high level coaching and competition then in the American University system.
  • You cannot substitute the 4 years of basketball knowledge, coaching, experience, physical growth and mental maturity that a collegiate basketball career will give you.
  • That’s not to mention the actual degree that you can receive, paid for have you, from the University you attend.
  • Stay in school if you want a better chance at playing professional basketball.
Stay Prepared – How To Play Basketball Overseas
  • The worst thing that can happen is that you get a tryout and are not in game shape
  • You should be lifting weights, conditioning (running, sprints, hills, stairs, bike, plyometrics) skill work, playing 1v1 and 5v5.
  • Get with other overseas professional players and workout with them.
  • If you are not sure how to prepare, hire a professional basketball trainer that can help prepare a plan for you.
Be Active Networking and Making Contacts
  • Everyday is a new opportunity to meet someone that can help you in your pursuit to play basketball overseas.
  • Use your current contacts with coaches, teammates and trainers to reach new contacts.
  • When you meet people involved in basketball, exchange contact information with them. Reach out to them and develop a relationship.
  • Use social media to make new contacts around the world.

These are the suggestions on how to play basketball overseas by International Scout and CEO of EuroProbasket International Academy in Spain, Brad Kanis.

How to Play Basketball Overseas

If you are thinking about playing basketball at the professional level, but do not believe that you can make it to the NBA, you may be asking yourself how to play basketball overseas. It is great that for professional basketball players, it’s not just the NBA or bust. 

Playing basketball overseas is becoming more and more popular for professional basketball players. It is very important that you get all the information you can possibly get if you are considering playing overseas. 

We want to help you on your journey to get to where you need to get to most efficiently. Our article today will be going in-depth through different aspects of how to play basketball overseas.

What are the Requirements to Play Basketball Overseas?

Playing basketball overseas is not just as simple as walking on to an international court and saying, here I am, play me. The process is quite tricky, and if you aren’t well prepared, you will waste a lot of time, energy, and money for nothing. Here are some of the things that you need to do or get in place before your international basketball career can start.

Agent

Getting in touch with an agent may be the best thing you ever did it. Agents may not always have the best reputation on the international scene, but doing your research and signing with a reputable agent is going to benefit you incredibly.
Your agent will be able to connect you with the people you need to get in touch with to make your career happen. Through their experience, agents will have the process done in a smooth, efficient way.

Market yourself

Some people believe that just because they are skilled basketball players, everyone knows about them. That’s not the case. If you need to play overseas to make a living as a basketball player, that means you are swimming in a pool with thousands of players at your talent level. You need to stand out, and to do this, you need to market yourself. 

No one will be more interested in marketing you than you, so no one will do a better job than you. Make sure that you create highlight videos and game tapes for international scouts and coaches to see. 

Whenever you get to the opportunity to speak to a coach or scout, always let them know the pros of having you on their teams. Do your best both on and off the court to make yourself unforgettable in their minds.

Skill

This is the biggest requirement of playing professional basketball overseas. Professional basketball, even in other countries, is just that; it’s professional. This means that teams are competing with the sole aim of winning championships, so you will be paid to perform. 

Despite all the other things that may be going for you, if you do not have the skill to perform at an international level, no international basketball team will want you on their roster taking up space. If you want to play basketball at the professional level in any country, you must be skilled as the other players already doing this, or even more skilled. 

If you realize that you want to play international basketball, but your skills are not there yet, you have two options. One, work extremely hard to improve to the level acceptable for professionals or two, choose a different career.

Coachable

Some people may not see the importance in this point until it’s too late nope. Professional coaches are more interested in working with players that are coachable than those that aren’t. Suppose you are thinking about becoming a professional basketball player in another country. In that case, you should be willing to learn and understand different playing styles and adapt your game to what your coaches need from you. 

Being coachable will extend your professional basketball playing career and also increase your playing time.

Adaptable

When you opt to play professional basketball overseas, you are choosing to play basketball away from home in a foreign country. Not all countries will be similar. You must be capable of adapting your lifestyle and mindset to live in a foreign country while being exposed to foreign cultures.

Focused 

Staying focused while playing basketball anywhere is of great importance, but at the same time, it can be challenging for different players. Anything that you do that requires focus will need you to be willing to devote your attention to it to be successful, and basketball is no different. 

If you are playing basketball in a foreign country, there will be many distractions that can affect you and your game. If you put yourself in this situation, you need to remember why you are there, and you need to find a balance between basketball and other aspects of your life. 

Try to make sure that basketball remains your priority so that you can maintain your professional playing career.

Initial capital to get to camps and academies

To set yourself up with the opportunity to play basketball overseas, you will need some initial capital, depending on your skill level. If you are a heavily recruited athlete, you may not need to pay to get started, however, if you aren’t heavily recruited, you will need capital to travel to camps or pay to get into basketball academies. 

You may also need to pay agents to set you up with teams and coaches. In addition to these expenses, you may also need to pay for accommodation when you travel to exhibition camps.

Research new country

It is of extreme importance that you do your research before you commit. You should take every step to research the country you will be visiting or playing in so that you can get a better understanding of the culture and expectations of you while you are there. 

Researching a potential destination country for your career will also help you to determine if its culture and overall environment is one that you can thrive in. In addition to researching the country, you should research the league and other player’s experiences. 

There really isn’t a way for you to find out everything by internet searches so try to network as much as you can and ask the right questions so that you can get as much information as possible. Doing research may not tell you everything you need to know but it will help you to get prepared.

How to Contact Overseas Basketball Team?

There are many ways that one can contact overseas basketball teams in order to express interest in playing for them. The teams contacted some players that play in overseas basketball leagues so they didn’t have to worry about making the first call. 

Most players are not this lucky, and even if they are very skilled, they still need to initiate contact with the team to express interest. Here are some channels that can be used to reach out to International professional basketball teams.

Contacts

If you have friends or family in the professional basketball industry or have played overseas, you should lean on a family for assistance here. They may have the means of getting you in front of a coach or a scout or send your videos to the right persons if they are highly connected. If this is the case, then you are halfway there. If they can’t do this, they may know someone who can, so do not be afraid to ask for help.

Agents

Agents are going to play a crucial part in your basketball career. Signing with the right agent should be an essential process and should be carefully evaluated before your final choice is made.

Make sure that you associate with an agent that is very experienced and good at their job so they can find the best opportunities for you and your career. Agents usually have more contacts in this field than your common acquaintance, so they can go through the proper channels to get you in front of an international coach.

College coaches

International Scouts sometimes communicate with college coaches. If you are in college and thinking of playing professional basketball overseas, you should speak to your coaches and find out if they can help you with their contacts. 

Your coaches will also provide you with valuable advice based on their knowledge of international basketball and help you choose the right team for you.

Do You Have to Go to College to Play Basketball Overseas?

Playing in college basketball leagues can maximize your potential to play overseas, however, it is not a requirement. 

The most significant requirement to play international basketball is your skill level. If you are a skilled player who can compete at the professional level, you have different ways to show your talents to international scouts and coaches. Here are a few of them.

Highlight video

This is not the most traditional way, but compiling a highlight video of your skills in leagues you are playing in and then sending said video to coaches or scouts is a great way to get yourself noticed. 

Social media is also a big part of marketing in today’s basketball industry, so make sure that you have a strong social media presence and increase your chances. Make sure you are highlight videos show all your skills for coaches to make a thorough evaluation from them.

Agents

After you have created your highlight video, make sure you sign with an agent. Your agent’s job will be to market you to potential teams that need your skills. Even though you didn’t play in a college league, your agent will have different ways that coaches can see you. They can get you invited to camps, and if they are from basketball academies, then they will work that angle too.

Exposure camps

Exposure camps are international camps put on for players to showcase their talents to international scouts and coaches. Do your research and find out what exposure camps the recruiters for the teams you are interested in playing for attend. Recruiters well attend exposure camps because they have opportunities to view many players in one location. 

When you go to exposure camps, remember the purpose of your trip and stay focused. Your goal there will be to stand out and make a name for yourself. While you are at these camps, try to speak with team representatives and scouts so that you can start to build a relationship with them. Try to understand what they are looking for and adapt your game to fit.

Basketball academies

Basketball academies are institutions set up to help players achieve their full potential while providing them with opportunities to play for a professional team. Basketball academies are usually outfitted with coaching staff, training facilities, agents, and other essential personnel that you will have access to. 

Basketball academies are like stepping stones that feed players to international teams. Signing up with a basketball academy will provide you with most of the tools you will need to maximize your opportunity to play overseas.

How Hard Is It to Play Basketball Overseas?

-1%

Less than 1% of college athletes go on to play professional basketball. Think about that number for a minute. In addition to the fact that the opportunities to play international professional basketball are not infinite, other requirements will make this career path even more difficult to attain.

Skill

Professional basketball players are the best basketball players in the world. There are many basketball leagues across the world, but millions of players are attempting to play professionally. You have to be amongst the most skilled in this group to have a chance of making a team roster.

Different culture

If you are not a person who learns and adapts to new things quickly, you may have a problem after you go overseas to play basketball. Playing in a foreign country will expose you to that country’s culture and all the other cultures that are a part of the area you live in.
In addition to the country’s culture, you would also be exposed to the basketball culture, which can be wildly different from what you are accustomed to. This can be a difficult transition to make if you aren’t open and strong-minded.

Different Climate

The atmospheric conditions of the area you choose to play in can affect the level of your game. If the climate of the region you choose to play in isn’t ideal for you, and you find it difficult to adjust, you will have a real problem. Try to research the climatic conditions of a region before committing to play professional basketball there. Try to find an area that is the closest to what you are accustomed to, or a place that you feel that you can change and work with.

Family and Friends

If you are accustomed to having a strong support system from your family and friends, it will be difficult for you to play basketball overseas if you do not have this same system readily available at hand. 

Yes, you will have opportunities to connect with your friends and family digitally, but this type of relationship may not always make up for the real thing. Living away from all the people you know and care for can have a devastating impact on a player, especially when they are going through difficult times.

Language Barrier

It is difficult to visit a country that speaks a different language, so you can imagine how difficult it will be to work there. Communication is a part of every aspect of life and to communicate, you must be able to speak the language of the place to a certain extent.  

It is important that you learn basic words because you will need to perform basic tasks or get help to perform these tasks. Without some knowledge of the language of the country you are working in, it will be very difficult to survive comfortably.

In addition to all the obstacles mentioned above, most international leagues have player restrictions that can prevent you from getting a foot in the door in the first place. Many teams have a certain number of international players that they can roster or play on the court at any given time. Here are a few of them.

Greece
In Greece, each team is allowed to have up to three players from the states on their rosters.

Russia
Russian basketball rules only allow for a maximum of six foreign players on a roster. Six local players would then complete the roster.

Italy
The Italian league has a few more options than the others. Teams can opt for either 5 foreigners on a ten-man game sheet or 3 non-EU players, 4 E. U. players, and 5 Italians on a 12-men game sheet.

Serbia
In Serbia, each team is allowed to have up to four players from the states on their rosters.

Turkey
Turkish teams can sigh a maximum of 6 foreigners but can only use 5 per game.

Spain
The Spanish league is one of the most restricted. Each team can only sign two foreigners.

Israel
Teams in the Israeli league can roster up to 6 U.S. players.

How Much Do Players Make Playing Basketball Overseas?

Even though the salaries of players playing outside of the states, are, for the most part, significantly lower than that of NBA players, international basketball players can make a good living playing overseas. 

Players that play in overseas professional basketball leagues have the potential to earn up to $100,000 and more than if they played in the G League. There are a few players that have multimillion-dollar contracts outside of the U.S., but this is just a few.

The average salary playing internationally, even though pretty good, is much lower. 

In the Spanish first league (Liga ACB), The average salary for international players is around $130000 per season. However, the top tier players will receive a lot more. The highest EURO player (Nikola Mirotic) is receiving an average of 5.4 mil USD to play for F.C. Barcelona in Spain. 

The average wage for players in Australia was $146,000, but players recently agreed to a pay cut to ensure the league’s sustainability in these unique trying times. Hopefully, after the pandemic is over, players will see their wages returning to normal. 

The Chinese Basketball Association has a salary cap of just over five mil USD, and no player can get a contract that is over 25% of that amount. In Turkey’s BSL, international players can get an average salary of around 250,000.

What are the Best Overseas Basketball Leagues?

The best basketball leagues are in Spain (ACB), the Adriatic region (ABA), and Russia (VTB United League). These leagues are the most competitive and they offer competitive salaries. Top teams in local European leagues filter to the Euro Cup, FIBA’s BCL, and Euro League.

What NBA Players are Playing Overseas? 

Many Former NBA players are now playing in international basketball leagues. Let’s take a look at five of the most memorable ones.

Nikola Mirotic

After playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018-2019 NBA season, Mirotic decided to reject a +$35 mil offer and decided to return to play in Spain. Mirotic was the 23 draft of the 2011 NBA. While he played in the NBA, Mirotic averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Lance Stephenson

Lance last played with the L.A. Lakers in the 2018-2019 NBA season. During that season, he averaged 7.2ppg and 3.2rpg in 16.5 minutes per game. In August of 2019, Lance Stephenson signed with the Liaoning Flying Leopards from the Chinese Basketball Association.

Amare Stoudemire

Amare Stoudemire won ROY with the Suns in 2003. He then went on to have a wonderful NBA career, averaging 18ppg and 7rpg. Amare signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2020 and won the Israeli league. He was also the league’s finals MVP.

Jeremy Lin

Linsanity!!! Jeremy Lin last played with the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-19 NBA season. He won a championship with the team that year. Jeremy Lin may be best known for a group of games in 2012 when he led the Knicks on s seven-game winning streak. He is now playing for the Ducks in the CBA.

Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe was last signed with the 76ers but is now playing in Russia with B.C. Khimki.

5 Tips to Playing Basketball Overseas

Agent

To play basketball overseas, you will need to sign with an agent. Agents are quite useful because they have been in the game longer than you are and they would have all the right contacts to get you started.

Highlight Video

A highlight video is very important. Your highlight video will help you to improve your chances of getting noticed by international scouts and coaches. Ensure that all your games are recorded and have your video professionally edited so that it comprehensively shows your talent.

After you have created your highlight video, make sure that you get it in front of your agent so they can have it sent to all of the scouts and coaches that they need to.

Exposure Camps 

Exposure camps are camps put on by International Teams, like overseas basketball tryouts, so that they can evaluate many players at one location. Attend exposure camps so that coaches and the scouts will have you honor their Radars. Choose your cams wisely so that you do not waste your time.

Join Basketball Academies

Do your research to find out what basketball academies are the most efficient in getting international players jobs in professional basketball leagues. Find an academy that seems worth it for you and then sign up with them. This investment will give you access to coaches, agents, and the facilities to get you prepared for a career overseas.

Network

Whenever you go to international basketball events, try to make as many friends as you can and get as much information as you can from them. Identify useful information and act on it.

Whenever you are introduced to players who have played overseas in the past or are currently playing overseas, try to build your relationship with them and ask them for help in getting your career started.

Wrapping Things Up: How to Play Basketball Overseas

To play basketball overseas, you will need to associate yourself with the right people, go to the right places, and do the right training. Get a good agent, attend camps, and prepare videos of your best moments.

Did you find this helpful? Then also check out other basketball FAQ articles here.

> How to Get a Basketball Scholarship

> How to Get Better at Basketball: Tips & Drills

Rules of Basketball

How the rules have changed in your favorite game

How the rules have changed in your favorite game

WE ALL LOVE TO PLAY BASKETBALL, BUT DO YOU KNOW THE RULES EXACTLY?

Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891. Then everything was different: playgrounds, baskets, balls…

!!! Read about the evolution of balls in the article:

Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891. Then everything was different: playgrounds, baskets, balls…

!!! Read about the evolution of balls in the article:

The history of basketballs

The history of basketballs

What balls are played now and how it happened

The beginning

The rules have also changed a lot during this time. Initially, there were only 13 of them in basketball:

  1. The ball can be thrown in any direction with one or two hands.
  2. The ball may be hit with one or both hands in any direction, but never with the fist.
  3. The player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw the ball from the point at which he caught it, except for a player running at high speed.
  4. The ball must be held with the hands. You can not use the forearms and body to hold the ball.
  5. In any case, hitting, grabbing, holding and pushing the opponent is not allowed. The first violation of this rule by any player shall be called a foul; the second foul disqualifies him until the next ball is scored, and if there was an obvious intention to injure the player, then a disqualification for the entire game. It is not allowed to replace a disqualified player.
  6. Punching the ball is a violation of points 2 and 4, the penalty is described in point 5.
  7. commit no foul).
  8. A point is scored if a ball thrown or bouncing off the floor hits the basket and stays there. Defending players are not allowed to touch the ball or basket while shooting. If the ball touches the edge and the opponents move the basket, then a point is scored.
  9. If the ball goes out of bounds, it must be dropped into the field by the first player to touch it. In the event of a dispute, the referee must throw the ball into the field. The thrower is allowed to hold the ball for five seconds. If he holds it longer, then the ball is given to the opponent. If either side tries to play for time, the referee must give them a foul.
  10. The referee must monitor the actions of the players and fouls, and notify the referee of three consecutive fouls. He shall have the power to disqualify players under rule 5.
  11. The referee must watch the ball and determine when the ball is in play (inbounds) and when it goes out of bounds (out of bounds), which side should be in possession of the ball, and any other action that the referee would normally take .
  12. The game consists of two halves of 15 minutes each with a break of 5 minutes between them.
  13. The side with the most goals during this time period is the winner.

The most important rule change in the history of basketball is the introduction of dribbling. In the original version of the game, this was prohibited by paragraph 3 of the rules.

One of the first changes in the game and the rules was the replacement of the basket with a ring with a net. It seemed to be very inconvenient to climb after the ball every time after a hit. Around the same time, free throws, dribbling appeared, and the composition of the teams was fixed for 5 players on the court at the same time. Before that, in some matches, up to 50 people could be on the court at the same time. All this happened back in 1896-1897.

The emergence of FIBA ​​(International Basketball Federation)

Basketball in the early 20th century became more popular and the rules in each country could be different. This was one of the reasons why FIBA ​​appeared in 1932 year. At the first FIBA ​​Congress, the teams were approved (5 people and 2 substitutes), and it was decided that after each goal there would be a throw-in in the center. This rule was removed after 4 years to reduce the advantage of tall players.

Over the next few years, the main changes were related to the number of personal fouls, the number of players on the bench and the introduction of a time limit for getting the ball into the opponent's half of the court.

More changes came in 1952 after the Olympics. The game became very boring, because the teams held the ball, having received a minimal lead in the score. Everyone understood this and searched for solutions for several years in order to save the life of basketball. At 1954 Danny Biason proposed to the NBA to limit the time for the shot to 24 seconds. At the 1956 Olympics, there was a similar rule: it was necessary to make a throw in 30 seconds. At the same time, to add equality between defense and attack, another rule familiar to us appeared: you need to start dribbling the ball before the supporting leg comes off.

Then the game became similar to the modern one from a technical point of view: dribbling, shots, a three-second zone appeared. In 1979, the NBA added a three-point line, and in 19In 1984, FIBA ​​also added an arc.

!!! An article about the evolution of the three-point shot and interesting facts:

10 interesting facts about the three-point shot.

10 interesting facts about the three-point shot.

Three-pointer evolution and insane records.

Changes in the rules and basketball since 1956 have included the number of free kicks, the situations in which these free kicks are given, and individual and team penalties. Some rules were introduced, and a few years later they were canceled. For example, the "3 for 2" rule: if a player was fouled in the shooting phase, then if one of the first two shots was missed, he could make another free throw. This rule was later removed.

Since the 1990s there have been constant changes: the emergence of alley-oops, changes in the timing and rewriting of the rules of running, which continue to this day.

From the most interesting: if the team has 0.3 seconds or less to throw the ball from behind, then it must be a one-touch throw. It takes at least 0.4 seconds to perform a full throw.

Derrick Fisher made similar throws:

And here is a small selection of videos of how they throw in 0. 2 seconds:

Do you want to take your first steps in basketball or improve your basic skills? We have a Basic Basketball Skills workout for you. See the schedule and sign up:

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Coach: Yuriy Bespalov

- Professional player of the INANOMO 3x3 team;
- Champion of Russia 3x3 2019, 2021;
- Winner and medalist of the MOFB championship;
- MLBL Summer League MVP 2017;
- Multiple participant of Moscow Open;
- Champion of Moscow 3x3 2017;
- MVP GrunisCup 2017.

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9 definitions every basketball player should know

Basketball (from English basket - basket, ball - ball) is an Olympic sport, a sports team game with a ball, the goal of which is to throw the ball into the opponent's basket more times than the opposing team does at the set time. Each team consists of 5 field players.

Contents

  • The history of the emergence and development of basketball
  • Basketball rules (briefly)
  • Basketball field
  • Basketball
  • Basketball hoop and backboard dimensions
  • Refereeing in basketball
  • Basketball Federation

The history of the emergence and development of basketball


In 1891, in the United States of America, a young teacher, a native of Canada, Dr. James Naismith, trying to "revive" gymnastics lessons, attached two fruit baskets to the railing of the balcony and suggested throwing soccer balls into it. The resulting game only remotely resembled modern basketball. There was no question of any management, the players threw the ball to each other and then tried to throw it into the basket. The team that scored the most goals won.

A year later, Naismith developed the first rules of basketball. The very first matches under these rules caused their first changes.

Gradually, basketball from the United States penetrated first to the East - Japan, China, the Philippines, and then to Europe and South America. After 10 years at the Olympic Games in St. Louis, the Americans organized a demonstration tour between the teams of several cities. The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed in 1946. The first match under her auspices took place on November 1 of the same year in Toronto between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers. At 19In 1949, the association merged with the US National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 1967, the American Basketball Association was created, which for a long time tried to compete with the NBA, but merged with it 9 years later. Today, the NBA is one of the most influential and well-known professional basketball leagues in the world.

The International Amateur Basketball Federation was founded in 1932. The federation includes 8 countries: Argentina, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania. Sweden, Czechoslovakia. Based on the name, it was assumed that the organization would only lead amateur basketball, however, at 1989, professional basketball players received admission to international competitions, and the word "amateur" was removed from the name.

The very first international match took place in 1904, and in 1936 basketball entered the program of the Summer Olympic Games.

Basketball rules (briefly)


The rules of the game of basketball changed several times until 2004, when the final version of the rules took shape, which is considered relevant to this day.

  1. Basketball is played by two teams. Usually a team consists of 12 people, 5 of which are field players, and the rest are considered substitutes.
  2. Basketball dribbling . Athletes in possession of the ball must move around the field, hitting the floor with it. Otherwise, "carrying the ball" will be counted, and this is a violation of the rules in basketball. Accidentally touching the ball with a body part other than the hand is not considered a foul, unlike purposeful play with the foot or fist.
  3. A basketball game consists of 4 periods or halves, but the time of each half (play time) varies depending on the basketball association. So, for example, in NBA a match consists of 4 halves of 12 minutes each, and in FIBA ​​each such half lasts 10 minutes.
  4. Short breaks are provided between periods, and between the second and third periods, the break time is increased.
  5. The ball thrown into the basket can bring a different number of points to its team. If the ball is scored during the free throw, the team earns 1 point. If the ball is thrown from an average or close distance (closer than the 3-point line), then the team is given 2 points. A team earns three points if the ball is scored from behind the three-point line.
  6. If in regular time both teams scored the same number of points, then a 5-minute overtime is assigned, if it ended in a draw, then the next one is assigned and so on until the winner is determined.
  7. The 3 Second Rule is a rule that prohibits any player on the attacking team from being in the free throw area for more than three seconds.
  8. Basketball Two Step Rule . The player is only allowed to take two steps with the ball, after which he must either shoot or pass.

Basketball field


The playing field for basketball has a rectangular shape and a hard surface. The surface of the site must not have any bends, cracks or any other deformations. The size of the basketball court must be 28 meters long and 15 meters wide (standard). The height of the ceiling must be at least 7 meters, and on professional sites, ceilings are raised to a height of 12 meters and above. The lighting on the field must be designed so as not to interfere with the movement of the players and must evenly cover the entire court.

Until the end of the 60s, tournaments could be organized outdoors. However, now basketball games are played only in closed areas.

Site marking


  1. limit lines. Pass along the entire perimeter of the site (2 short front lines and 2 long side lines).
  2. Central line. It is drawn from one side line to another and at the same time it is parallel to the front lines.
  3. The central zone is a circle (radius 1.80 m) and is located exactly in the center of the basketball field.
  4. Three-point lines are semi-circles with a radius of 6.75 m, drawn to the intersection with parallel (front) lines.
  5. Free throw lines. The free-throw line is drawn 3.60 m long parallel to each end line so that its far edge is located at a distance of 5.80 meters from the inside edge of the end line, and its middle is on an imaginary line connecting the midpoints of both end lines.

Basketball


The basketball is spherical, painted an approved shade of orange, and has a pattern of eight inlays and black stitching.

Basketball size Circumference, mm Weight, g
Size 7 750-780 567-650
Size 6 720-740 500-540
Size 5 690-710 470-500
Size 3 560-580 300-330

Basketball hoop and backboard dimensions


The height of the basketball hoop from the floor level is 3. 05 meters (standard). The diameter of the basketball hoop ranges from 45 cm to 45.7 cm. The ring itself must be painted bright orange. A special net with a length of 40-45 cm is attached to the ring. The basketball hoop is located at a distance of 15 cm from the backboard.

The shield to which the ring is attached also has a number of important parameters. Basketball backboard size: width - 1.8 m, height - 1.05 m. Modern basketball backboards are made of tempered glass.

Refereeing in basketball


At the basketball game there are:

  • senior judge and judge;
  • timekeeper;
  • secretary;
  • assistant secretary;
  • operator 30 seconds.

Judge uniform:

  • gray shirt;
  • long black trousers;
  • black basketball shoes.

Basketball Federation