| With a hip slogan that passionately states, "I Love | | | | 20 years. The league now has 11 offices in |
| This Game!" the National Basketball Association | | | | locations outside the United States, and during the |
| (NBA) has a very high standard to meet. While | | | | 2005-06 season distributed programming to 215 |
| the league apparently presumes its fans' eternal | | | | countries and territories in 43 languages, according |
| affection for the game, a valid question remains is | | | | to their official Web site. League games presently |
| the league as well-liked as in previous years? | | | | reach 3.1 billion viewers worldwide, and |
| The league attendance statistics answer positively. | | | | merchandise is sold in more than 100 countries on |
| By most measures, the 2005-06 season was a | | | | six continents. China is the NBA's second-largest |
| huge success. The league ended the season with | | | | market after the U.S. |
| the loftiest average attendance in history and the | | | | Reflecting the global aspect of the sport, opening |
| best total attendance, surpassing the previous | | | | night team rosters for the 2006-07 season |
| records from 2004-05. The average attendance | | | | featured a league history best 83 international |
| of 17,558 fans per game surpassed the 2004-05 | | | | players from 37 countries and territories, |
| record of 17,314 fans per game, and the 1995-96 | | | | marginally surpassing last season's 82. |
| average of 17,252. The new total attendance | | | | Twenty-eight of the 30 teams feature at least |
| record of 21,595,804 eclipsed the previous record | | | | one international player. With a total league roster |
| of 21,296,497 established in 2004-05, and the | | | | of 440, international players account for a full 19 |
| 1995-96 total of 20,513,218 fans going to regular | | | | percent. |
| season games. Overall, NBA stadiums were filled | | | | So, it looks like that the NBA is headed in the |
| to 91.4 percent capacity. | | | | right direction as the league continues to gain |
| NBA Commissioner David Stern, when asked | | | | more fans around the world, drawing young |
| about the league's accretion in popularity said: "Our | | | | would-be ballplayers from all corners of the planet. |
| attendance record demonstrates the | | | | One would hardly be faulted for predicting that |
| extraordinary connection that exists between | | | | the number of foreign-born players will continue to |
| players and fans, and we are thankful for our | | | | grow for the foreseeable future. Along with more |
| fans continued support and passion for the game." | | | | players from different locales will naturally come |
| Rated as the most authoritative commissioner of | | | | more national interest from the people in those |
| any major American sport, Stern garnered the | | | | places. |
| #1 spot on the 2006 Sporting News "The Power | | | | In answer to the question posed in the title, as it |
| 100" survey. | | | | turns out a large number of fans all around the |
| The game of basketball has tremendously | | | | world would indeed say, "I love this game! |
| increased in popularity around the globe in the last | | | | |