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Ranking the top NBA markets

raptorlife4

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A lot of talk out here about where Kawhi might want to go and that most feel Toronto doesnt stand a chance.

I however think once he gets here and the team has success he will realize how great the fans,organization and city is.

So my question is what would you say are the top 10 NBA markets out there for a player to play in.
 

bksballer89

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by team or cities?

There are multiple teams in certain cities
 

raptorlife4

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Id say


1. New York
2. LA
3. Miami
4. Chicago
5. Toronto
 

The Derski

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Probably goes NY, LA, Chicago always top 3. Sprinkle in the Bay Area, Boston, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Philly, etc. after that.
 

tlance

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Id say


1. New York
2. LA
3. Miami
4. Chicago
5. Toronto

Well,

Toronto is not top 5 simply because it is in Canada. I have been there, it is a nice city, but few American born Players want to live in another country when they don't have to.
 

tlance

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1. LA
2. NY
3. Boston
4. Miami
5. Chicago
6. Dallas
7. Houston
8. Phoenix

After that, if you build a great program you can sign big name players. Otherwise, it is tough sledding.
 

msgkings322

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1. Seattle
2. Orlando
3. OKC
4. Memphis
5. Utah
 

WiggyRuss

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Id say


1. New York
2. LA
3. Miami
4. Chicago
5. Toronto
I mean, just looking at this list off the bat, we can see that from the past few years in the NBA, that market matters much much less than it used to. What matters more to free agents nowadays sure seems to be the opportunity to win.

I mean, over a decade a go Dwight Howard and LeBron James were the 2 most marketable stars in the NBA and they were located in Cleveland and Orlando. The NBA has thrived the last few years despite the Lakers, Knicks, and even the Bulls for long stretches, being terrible.

Market may operate as a tie-breaker in some situations- but so can taxes, and a million other things. Combined with a robust revenue sharing program, all of these factors have made it so that teams in small markets can be as competitive as ever in the NBA.
 

WiggyRuss

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1. LA
2. NY
3. Boston
4. Miami
5. Chicago
6. Dallas
7. Houston
8. Phoenix

After that, if you build a great program you can sign big name players. Otherwise, it is tough sledding.
historically Boston has been one of the places that NBA free agents have scorned until very very very recently. A few years ago the Lakers tried to go after Greg Monroe and were laughed at and he went to Milwaukee. Jimmy Butler worked to get out of Chicago and ended up going to the wastelands of northern Minnesota.

Market has never mattered less in the NBA than it does today, and matters INSANELY less than it used to 20 years ago where you had to be in a major market to even be on national TV.
 

ericd7633

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1. LA
2. NY
3. Chicago
4. Miami
5. Houston
6. Boston
7. Dallas
8. Philadelphia
9. Bay Area

Struggling with 10.
 

WiggyRuss

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A lot of talk out here about where Kawhi might want to go and that most feel Toronto doesnt stand a chance.

I however think once he gets here and the team has success he will realize how great the fans,organization and city is.

So my question is what would you say are the top 10 NBA markets out there for a player to play in.
when you say Top 10, what are your criteria? size? attraction to players? taxes? weather? history? ability to win? ownership? management? youth on the roster? experience on the roster? marketing prowess? fans? facilities? lifestyle?
 

tlance

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historically Boston has been one of the places that NBA free agents have scorned until very very very recently. A few years ago the Lakers tried to go after Greg Monroe and were laughed at and he went to Milwaukee. Jimmy Butler worked to get out of Chicago and ended up going to the wastelands of northern Minnesota.

Market has never mattered less in the NBA than it does today, and matters INSANELY less than it used to 20 years ago where you had to be in a major market to even be on national TV.

I agree it means less, but it still matters. It is why LeBron is in LA.

SuperStars need to see a winning culture. In most cases they also need to see at least a decent market. Franchises like Indiana, Utah, and Milwaukee have a tough time signing premier FAs even when they do have winning cultures.
 

Arizona_Sting

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There was a time when Phoenix was in the conversation of top 6 markets to play in.... right after LA, Chicago, NY, Miami, Boston, etc. Them, Philly, Houston and Dallas are about the same tier, but obviously HOU & Philly are coming off a better year than the latter two so if I had to put together a ranking system I'd go:

1) Los Angeles
2) New York
3) Chicago
4) Boston
5) Miami
6) Houston
7) Dallas
8) Phoenix
9) Philadelphia
10) Toronto

Really though, 6-9 *nice* are all about the same tier, they're all just in different phases in terms of their competitiveness/recent success obviously.


I will say this about Toronto, they have more potential to grow than any other market imo, they have an entire nation behind them and basketball is gaining popularity in Canada, so a few years from now they could make a leap.

.
 

msgkings322

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There was a time when Phoenix was in the conversation of top 6 markets to play in.... right after LA, Chicago, NY, Miami, Boston, etc. Them, Philly, Houston and Dallas are about the same tier, but obviously HOU & Philly are coming off a better year than the latter two so if I had to put together a ranking system I'd go:

1) Los Angeles
2) New York
3) Chicago
4) Boston
5) Miami
6) Houston
7) Dallas
8) Phoenix
9) Philadelphia
10) Toronto

Really though, 6-9 *nice* are all about the same tier, they're all just in different phases in terms of their competitiveness/recent success obviously.


I will say this about Toronto, they have more potential to grow than any other market imo, they have an entire nation behind them and basketball is gaining popularity in Canada, so a few years from now they could make a leap.

.
Bay Area should be at least 8th...
 

msgkings322

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what is the criteria? media market size?
I dunno, sounds like we all get to pick our own. Market size, quality of organization, proximity to entertainment/tech/business opportunities, weather, etc. Bay Area is top ten in any reasonable list
 
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