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NBA Comish Helps Make NBA Global, But Also Less Local

Commissioner David Stern has been working over the past few years to expand the NBA brand overseas, and has therefore helped make it the world's No. 2 global professional sport, behind soccer. Yao Ming, who retired last week, was the single most important player in marketing the league in foreign markets in the 21st century.

Asian and European basketball fans are no longer content with their home teams and players are global products. One NBA team in Turkey is offering American NBA players a place to shoot should the lockout wipe out much or all of the NBA season, and Kobe Bryant is reportedly fielding offers from foreign teams and players like Amar'e Stoudemire have said they will do likewise.

Read the whole story at New England Sports Network »

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