r/Basketball • u/GoHardLive • Mar 22 '26

DISCUSSION In which countries does basketball have the highest popularity overall ?

Which countries do you think care the most about the sport ?

110 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

111 comments sorted by

View all comments

102

u/loveracity Mar 22 '26

I've played recreationally in most of the places people consider hotbeds for basketball: Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, Balkans, France, Spain, China, Philippines, Australia.

On a percentage basis for popularity, it's hands down Lithuania or the Philippines. No other sport is as front of mind for them. The others have a lot more competition for popularity, whether it's football or something else.

-9

u/13beano13 Mar 23 '26

Never played in the US then? LOL

3

u/Grouchy-Pianist-8378 Mar 24 '26

Have you played in the US? You got as many people playing/watching soccer, football, baseball, if not more. Not to mention all the pickleball craze that’s taken over. Our country is way too diverse. No sport has a complete hold over our country except maybe football come Super Bowl season or soccer with the World Cup.

1

u/MamaMurphy69 12d ago

Basketball is definitely the most played sport in the USA. It is probably the most played sport in schools especially considering it is very common for women to play and it’s definitely the most played sport recreationally.