What if USA Basketball had a Pyramid liked EFL Soccer?

What would our USA Basketball Pyramid System look like in comparison to the English Football Pyramid System?

The English Football League System and the United States of America Professional Basketball System are two distinct sports structures that govern football (soccer) and basketball, respectively, in their respective countries. While they have some similarities, they also have significant differences due to the nature of the sports and the history of their development. Let’s first take a look at the two systems:

Their Structure: English Football League System: The English football league system is hierarchical and consists of multiple tiers or divisions. At the top is the English Premier League, followed by the English Football League (EFL) Championship, League One, and League Two. Below these are various regional leagues and non-league football divisions. Promotion and relegation are an essential aspect of the system, where teams move up or down the ladder based on their performance in the respective leagues.

USA Professional Basketball System: The United States' professional basketball system is organized around the National Basketball Association (NBA), which is the premier league. Below the NBA, there is no formal promotion and relegation system as seen in European football. Instead, there are parallel leagues like the NBA G League, which serves as the NBA's official minor league and a platform for player development. The NBA is the top level, and players typically enter the league through the NBA Draft or by signing contracts directly with NBA teams.

Development and History: English Football League System: The English football league system has a long history that dates back to the late 19th century. It evolved over time, with clubs forming regional leagues and eventually merging into the national system we know today. The system emphasizes grassroots development, and clubs often have youth academies to groom young talent.

USA Professional Basketball System: Basketball's professional structure in the USA is relatively newer compared to English football. The NBA was established in 1946, and its development has been more centralized compared to football in England. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) plays a crucial role in developing young basketball players through college basketball programs. Players often enter the NBA Draft after their college careers or, in some cases, directly from high school.

Geography and Scope: English Football League System: English football is organized within the boundaries of England and includes clubs from various cities and regions across the country.

USA Professional Basketball System: Basketball's professional system in the USA is not limited to a single league. Apart from the NBA, there are various other leagues and competitions, including college basketball. However, the NBA is the most prestigious and globally recognized professional basketball league in the USA.

In summary, the English Football League System and the USA Professional Basketball System are both vital sports structures in their respective countries. While English football follows a multi-tiered, promotion, and relegation system with a deep-rooted history, the USA's professional basketball system revolves around the NBA as the premier league and has a more recent development with a focus on college basketball as a talent pipeline. The cultural and historical differences between football and basketball have influenced the organization and development of these sports in their respective nations.

About the three bold highlighted sentences?

1).?College plays the crucial role in developing young basketball players through the collegiate basketball programs.?True, but what about players that no longer have college eligibility but are still young and developing.?The NBA peak age is 26 years old.?Most college kids run out of eligibility by year 22 or 23.?NBA players are retiring at the age of 40 or more these days.?Our question is, where do American basketball players go to continue to develop after college, but they don’t make the NBA their first year, and the don’t want to go overseas somewhere?

2).?No doubt, NBA is the best and biggest league not just in the United States but in the World.?NBA is becoming more and more of a global league and leaving its own country without a true National Champion.?If the winner of the NBA is called the World’s Champion, then who is the professional level team that is the champion of the United States of America, our country’s champ?

3).?The NBA uses the college basketball system as a talent pipeline.?This has always been true and will continue but the pipelines are growing with the G-League team Ignite and new high school options like Overtime Elite.?Plus, you still have every single Club/Team/City/Country in the World.?College along with D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO, NCCAA, represent such a large poll of players all hoping to be drafted 1 of 60 slots total.?Among those 60 drafted, there might be another dozen or two that become undrafted signed players.?The funnel which is the world to the NBA is filled with so many players but only a few make it way out of the other side.

In conclusion:??The United States of America needs to do a better job developing better teams and leagues for post college eligible players that are still in their early twenties and want to continue working to possibly make it to that $1 million NBA minimum league pay in their late twenties or in their thirties.?Potentially make this, truly the best pipeline a way for our country to cheer more for a true national champ.??

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