Washington Wizards
fromwww.nytimes.com
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"That's just how I was raised. I feel like Northwood, the basketball gym felt like my home since I'm there so much, before, during and after school... I just wanted to help out. That was really it."
I think when this first was announced, there was this feeling there would be 10 NFL players on that roster, and I'll be surprised if there's one. I think we have plenty of players that can acclimate, but it's going to take a month or two.
When things are intense and you feel like you've gotten in a rhythm and you may get it done and you might get to conclude it, you want to keep going. You don't want to lose the momentum, because the pause you take allows people to go into another dimension. They'll go back home, or they'll get into other meetings, and you don't keep that momentum going.
The increase is being largely driven by the Gen Z population, as basketball is now the 6th most popular sport among the 18-24 year old demographic. Despite there being major continental competitions across Europe like the EuroLeague and EuroCup, basketball is a sleeping giant that is awakening in the UK. This movement is likely to cause a massive shift in the sport's associated betting markets as well, but the big question of whether basketball can break into the mainstream remains.