NBA jerseys are often a sight for sore eyes when walking anywhere in England, as with any American Sport. But then comes the question. Is the person wearing it an actual fan, or did they just think it looks cool? Will they appreciate an acknowledging remark or have no idea what I’m talking about? Normally, it’s the latter. But this week is a little different. The NBA is coming to town and the jerseys of Allen Iverson and Dr J are beginning to grace towns and cities across the country. Fans are excited…and they have every reason to be.
It’s been a long time coming. Waiting up until the dead hours of the morning has become routine for every die-hard Sixers fan in the UK, but now their team is coming to them…and they’re packing talent. Riding a four-game win streak and looking to start the new-year with a bang, the Sixers are loaded with young and exciting stars. Ben Simmons is having a rookie season like no other, Joel Embiid (aside from the injury status rollercoaster) is continuing his rise to global dominance and the addition of J.J Reddick has only empowered this young core.
For many, the phrase ‘trust the process’ meant more than just watching their favorite team tank their way to ping-pong balls. It was a way of life. A way of accepting that you need to go through the storm to enjoy the Rainbow. A new way of resonating with a team that is so heartbreakingly far away, yet every beat of the ball hitting the hardwood would synchronize with the heartbeat of a fan somewhere, draped in Sixers gear from head to toe.
For those of you based in America who watch the Premier League, you will empathize greatly. But imagine the passion YOU have for your favorite team. If the only way you could watch them play was just a few hours before you got up for a work. If the only times you could enjoy them on the big screen was through a subscription based channel and if you had to spend most of your time searching for updates. That’s the life of a UK Sixers fan. Just as passionate, just as proud. But the international love goes far beyond that.
It’s not just the fans either. For the Sixers, a chance for some of their international talent to grace another global stage lies ahead. Whether it’s the Australian Superstar in Ben Simmons, the Croation sensation in Dario Saric, Turkish SG Furkan Korkmaz or second-year frenchman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, the Sixers are a team who pride themselves on international talent…oh and did we mention ‘The process’ himself?
They’re not the only team either. The Celtics come just as diverse as Brad Stevens alluded to in a press conference before making the trip before going on to highlight just how big the global impact of the NBA really is.
“I think we all recognize the impact of the NBA but certainly the impact of basketball across the world.” The Celtics Head Coach explained. “I think of all the many incredible things that basketball has given to me, it’s been the opportunity to go to different places because of the game. When I was a college player, I played in four different countries in Europe. When I coached at Butler, we took our team
to Finland. We took our team to Italy. We had set up a trip to go to Australia right before I left. As part of the NBA, I’ve already gotten a chance to coach in Madrid and Milan and also go on an NBA Cares trip to Johannesburg, and now we get to come
to London. Without basketball, I don’t get to go to any of those places.
To me, it’s just another thing to speak to why we’re so thankful to get an opportunity to do what we do, and kind of, I guess, the global impact of the game and how we’re all tied by the love of the game, and I think that that for a basketball junkie like me is the fun part of it.”
A rivalry renewed between two teams brimming with star potential. Whether it’s the incredibly exciting Kyrie Irving, or the dominant Joel Embiid, NBA fans in the UK have a reason to wear their jerseys in pride this week…and they are. London is filled with support as fans acknowledge each other and engage in conversation. That’s the beauty of sport. Having never met, two people can connect instantly over one common interest. And if you’re a member of the sold out 02 Arena and will bear witness to the Sixers and Celtics game on Thursday evening, then you’ll have every opportunity to do just that as the NBA continues to blossom overseas.
Side note: Be sure to stick around for our extensive coverage of the Sixers trip to the UK. I’ll be attending both team practices in London and will try to share as many in-depth looks into the preparations as I can. You can find me on twitter here:
Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
