Fox Sports Latin America- Basketball The millions from russia could arrive at NBA By Leandro Ginobili

The millions from russia could arrive at NBA

By Leandro Ginobili

It has just been several years from the hand of the ineffable David Stern, that the NBA is not only American, but also becoming a big world business. This has not only happened because of its diffusion and attractions, but also from the arrival of many international players during the last decade

This arrival has made a more interesting product for the markets that the NBA has been interested in, mainly China and all of Southeast Asia.

But the league not only has been internationalized with players

Remember that it has extended its network to Canada giving two franchises in 1995: one in Toronto and the other in Vancouver. This last repatriated to Menphis in 2001

Besides, there was the rumour that it could extend to the South also, to Mexico more precisely.

Also foreign managers have arrived, like Maurizio Gherardini. The Italian who was the successful General Manager of Benetton Treviso, was hired as Assistant Manager and Vice President of the Toronto Raptors, the position that he has maintained since 2006.

The game has been internationalized with the irruption of the San Antonio Spurs, using a system of playing much more resembling the World FIBA than the NBA, putting aside the excessive use of the 1 against 1, playing with major control and giving emphasis on the defense . These characteristics, driven by their successes, have continued to several other franchises

Review: franchising in other countries, foreign managers, more international players and successful teams playing the international style of basketball, only leads that a foreigner could become the owner of a team

But this could happen?

The moment has arrived, the Russian multimillionaire Mikhail Prokhorow, formerly of the powerful oligarchy of his country and one of the richest persons on the planet, according to the magazine Forbes, wants to arrive at the NBA to purchase the New Jersey Nets.

Not only does he want to buy, but he also has the idea to move the Nets to the Big Apple as part of a huge property development project in the Brooklyn area, and becoming a big nightmare for the traditional Knicks.

Based on the available millions in his fortune (approximately 10 Billion Dollars), Prokhorov could take the biggest names that could be free at the end of the season: Lebron, Wade and Chris Bosh.

Could this become a case of argument for non-traditional franchising as an eternal protagonist, like his fellow Roman Abramovich did with the English Chelsea in soccer?

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All could be possible with money and these eccentric Russians who have as a hobby giving into their pleasures in life, it costs what it costs. To start, Mikahail Prokhorov, has offered 200 Million Dollars for 80% of the stock shares of the Nets

An amount very tempting for Bruce Ratner, the actual owner of the New Jersey Nets, who by not accepting it, would leave his team with little to no chance of success nor the ability to further its growth, but at the same time it would never have the attention of the press and fans that its neighbor in New York enjoys.

The deadline of December 31st leaves time for doing the transaction , The NBA wants to know who is Prokhorov, where is he from, how did he make his fortune and what intentions he has . In the best style of a father when in dialogue for the first time with the new boyfriend of his daughter, will David Stern give him an approving hand shake?

What I’m sure is that he will not ask him, “Son, with what will you maintain my daughter?”, which is very common to see from a father in these kind of situations. It is the view that the Russian may have many economical problems and that he hasn’t and won’t have anyone to follow his lead in the future.