How is basketball stereotypes or perceived in the UK?
Posted by NicheRivers2000@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 79 comments
How is basketball perceived or stereotyped in the UK?
First of all, I want to make clear I’m not endorsing any stereotypes about different groups I’m just stating the ones that already exist to a degree, any sport is for any person of course.
I like basketball and I’m from the US and here, it’s associated with poor African American suburbs because of its low cost since you can find a court or hoop in every park and school gym. Obviously since African-Americans more often in these underprivileged environments they make up a larger portion of the basketball scene as shown in the NBA. But it’s also sometimes associated with rich white kids in these underprivileged environments suburbs because of “AAU” where you play for a club but these clubs have high fees and whatever so it’s different from the “hood” basketball, and lots of basketball analysts have said this because of AAU basketball is losing its culture. It’s the most popular to play I think, but American football is still more popular to watch. I know it’s not very popular in the UK but I was just wondering if it has a specific perception or stereotype or whatever. I feel like every sport has a kind of stereotype in the US. So yeah basketball and really any other sport you wanna share cause I’m just here to learn 😎. Thanks.
duluoz1@reddit
I’d say basketball doesn’t really have much of a stereotype in the UK, other than being a US sport that has grown in popularity somewhat, but still behind our own homegrown sports. There are strong stereotypes for football (soccer), rugby, cricket, but I can’t think of any for basketball
Far-Hospital-9961@reddit
Many of my family and friends follow and/or play cricket, but I don’t know personally anyone that follows basketball.
Also, we play Rugby Union up north too.
Narttu@reddit
I wonder if this is a regional/demographic thing. I know plenty of people over the years that follow basketball but very few that care about cricket.
Far-Hospital-9961@reddit
I’m in the North West. Where are you?
Narttu@reddit
Brum
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
Ooh, are to share any of the stereotypes for this sports you mentioned?
duluoz1@reddit
Rugby is generally posh, private school stuff. Football is more working class. Rugby union is southern and hence posher, rugby league is a northern working man’s sport.
oscarx-ray@reddit
Rugby union is the common one in Scotland, we barely play league up here.
oscarx-ray@reddit
And it's not exclusive to posh folk here either, my local club team is almost exclusively working class. Schools are different, but clubs are very open.
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
Interesting. What gives union and leave their respective stereotypes. Is it the rules, players, histories, or something else?
peppermint_aero@reddit
It doesn't really have a stereotype at all. It's not very popular with kids or in schools, so although the sociocultural commentary you've provided on its popularity in various urban and suburban communities in the States was interesting to read, the same is really not true here - almost nobody plays it at amateur level.
Most people have heard of Michael Jordan, I'd say. But it's seen as a very American sport.
Our cultural tropes about how sport intersects with class (class is more prominent than race in this discourse over here) tend to sit with cricket, rugby, and football.
Narttu@reddit
Tbf, I grew up in inner city Brum during the Jordan era and knew more people following the NBA than a lot of the more "traditional" sports. Even today a lot of black Brits I know are into it over cricket, rugby, tennis etc.
I think the "American sport" perception is weird too. Its actually likely the most widely played/followed sport in the world outside of football. A lot of football teams on the continent including the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern have basketballs teams too.
peppermint_aero@reddit
Interesting insight, thanks
atomic_mermaid@reddit
I barely think of it let alone have any stereotypes or preconceptions about it. It's american is about the extent of what I would think.
Narttu@reddit
Its actually probably the 2nd most widely played/followed team sport in the world. A lot of the best players in the NBA arent American either.
atomic_mermaid@reddit
That has nothing to do with my 3 month old comment tho.
Narttu@reddit
Happy Birthday to your comment.
oscarx-ray@reddit
Tall Americans play it. It's a fast-paced sport and it's end-to-end.
Narttu@reddit
Its a very international game, possibly the most widely played/followed team sport outside of football. Many of the best NBA players arent American these days.
oscarx-ray@reddit
I know. But the question posed by OP wasn't "what is an accurate description of the makeup of player nationalities in the NBA?", was it?
oscarx-ray@reddit
I'm tall for a Scottish person at 6' 6" and I was encouraged to play it because I was the only person in my "county" that could slam dunk. But I preferred rugby.
Pockysocks@reddit
Only thing that comes to mind when I think about Basketball are tall people and how cringe the American crowds are compared to European crowds.
Narttu@reddit
Theres tons of European countries where basketball is a major sport, particularly in the South and East.
TheEnglishNorwegian@reddit
Basketball is just considered a shit sport where everything is a foul that you need to be extremely tall to play at a high level so it's not something most kids aspire to or care about as it's limiting out of the gate.
As a guy, Netball actually seems like a better game on paper, despite also being a bit janky rules wise.
It's also seen very much an American thing and way down the pecking order of sports in the UK. I think Darts and Snooker are both way more popular than Basketball in the UK, but I've not checked the stats in a while.
Narttu@reddit
Its probably the 2nd most widely played/followed sport in the world, definitely not just an American thing. Many of the best players arent American either - Jokic, Doncic, Giannis etc.
Even in the UK its one of the most participated in sports. The old boys network UK government didnt want to support it though, this was crucial in the 90s where it was gaining popularity rapidly and the domestic league was catching fire.
Crafty-Strength1626@reddit
Extremely boring to watch, but as kids it's quite commonly played
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
Hmm I wouldn’t have expect boring to watch. Football ⚽️ is often cited as “boring” by many Americans here cause of the lack of scoring, and I think that it can by true when neither team is very good, but I’ve also found that is much more entertaining in person than on TV.
Crafty-Strength1626@reddit
I think it's that only so many things can be done on such a small playing surface. Also there's so much scoring that it devalues it
Narttu@reddit
I agree about the scoring, but its a very skilled and expressive game, with, like football, a lot of "wizardry" on the ball, tekkers basically.
TheEnglishNorwegian@reddit
Yes this, the exciting things that happen in football are shots on targets goals, moments of skill.
Scoring is the expectation in Basketball so the excitement (more surprise than exciting) comes from when they miss or actually get tackled. It's an entirely different dynamic and makes it boring as a result.
Playing it is also boring, as on paper everything fun is a foul. You basically can't tackle anyone.
CharlemagneKidding@reddit
My perception is that any local who is massively into basketball is a bit odd obviously judgemental and maybe a generational thing that no longer applies.
In the UK it's seen as normal (bit sifferent for posh people) to be into any of football, rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics and cycling, or none at all. Anything else is a bit fringe.
Narttu@reddit
I think its maybe demographics and region based, plus like you said generational. I grew up in inner city Brum in the Jordan era with the NBA on channel 4, more of the people around me seemed to follow it that cricket, tennis etc. At that time the domestic league was also on telly, getting big sponsors and drawing decent crowds.
duluoz1@reddit
Funnily enough I agree with you. If I met somebody who was a big basketball fan I’d think they were a bit odd.
Potential_Coast8072@reddit
The domestic professional game is incredibly low profile. Common for urban areas to have a hoop if not a full court, not played in schools.
Narttu@reddit
There was a point where the domestic game had real potential. It piggybacked off of the growth in the NBAs popularity in the Jordan era, got itself onto Sky, got Budweiser as a sponsor, was drawing decent crowds etc. For whatever reason it just fizzled out.
xxxxsteven@reddit
Incredibly. Considering it's actually enjoyable
Potential_Coast8072@reddit
There are a lot of sports ahead of it. Football, cricket, rugby (both of them) tennis, golf even things like cycling and rowing have higher profiles and more national interest.
xxxxsteven@reddit
Agreed Everything you list people see or do.
spoo4brains@reddit
Is it not in schools any more? I used to play it in the gym at school several decades ago. I liked playing it, but it never made me interested in watching the sport.
Quiet_surprise79@reddit
We had it as a PE sport but it wasn't taken too seriously. Us girls only got to play a handful of times and usually played netball instead. I do remember the guys playing against other schools.
It's a shame because I was surprisingly good at HORSE for a short ass and would have much preferred to play basketball than roll my eyes through a game of rounders.
Still-Bill2827@reddit
Nobody cares honestly. I don't know a single person who is even remotely interested in the 3 big American sports, and never have.
Narttu@reddit
The NBA was pretty popular in the UK in the 90s, the domestic league was growing too but it died off.
TheEnglishNorwegian@reddit
I know a ton of people that have started following the NFL over the past decade or so.
I've also progressed from watching the Superbowl once a year to actually following the league a bit more closely. NFL fantasy football is honestly way more fun than EPL fantasy, especially with a good group of friends.
Still-Bill2827@reddit
American football is an absolute abomination I'd rather watch the jesus channel
TheEnglishNorwegian@reddit
I dunno, I was firmly of that opinion for a while as a former Rugby player, but over time I've come to appreciate its intricacies and the unique offerings it offers as a sport.
Weirdly enough it was Bloodbowl that got me into it more than anything, as that's an excellent boardgame and I decided to see how the "real sport" it was based on functioned.
After learning the rules and watching it, the gamer in me considers it an excellent turn based strategy game. It is essentially a tile based tactics game with big muscly meaty bois. You plan some moves on a short timer, then execute those moves and rinse repeat until the game ends. It's chess meets wrestling, with a ball, has a lot of strategic depth and room for creativity, but the structure of it makes it very much a turn based strategy vs an RTS. With the pause for "turns" and thinking time, the game allows for very good set-plays and players train for these accordingly. There's a reason lots of NFL coaches have been hired into the Premier League to consult on corners and free-kicks, or football coaches go out to America to see how they work.
I'm aware this is probably the most nerdy description of the NFL probably ever given on reddit, but it is how my brain works. But of course, you can hate it if you want, not everything is enjoyable for everyone.
HiroPr0tag0nist@reddit
It's not really perceived at all here. People do play the game I suppose but I'm nearly 40 and I've never seen it played or met anybody who plays. Kids mess around with a hoop and a ball at school or on the playground but very few Brits know the rules or watch the American games.
Narttu@reddit
You're around the same age as me then. Do you not remember the explosion in popularity the NBA had in the 90s? the domestic league was starting to catch fire too, it was on Sky, had big sponsors etc, then it just fizzled out.
Fantastic-Mud-4415@reddit
No perception, however there are tons of basketball courts near where I live but most of them will be packed with tennis players or football players. I have even seen cricket being played on some.
Foetus_-eater@reddit
Penis soup
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
Really 🤯
Foetus_-eater@reddit
Consume penis soup.
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
No thanks.
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
Basketball isn’t widely followed like other sports in the UK. I doubt most people could name 3 players other than Michael Jordon
D0wnInAlbion@reddit
Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny and Daffy Duck.
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
!answer thanks.
Jumpy_Maximum8889@reddit
I don't think people here even have an opinion on it.
There might be some that follow but it's just not a thing here.
If you're asking how we perceive it. It's an American thing with really tall men that get paid loads of money.
Space jam was it 1996? Watching that film was probably the most basketball most had ever watched.
BornWithWritersBlock@reddit
Honestly, I don't think many people even think about basketball in the UK, let alone possible stereotypes.
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
Intresting, probably like cricket over here or something.
HomeworkInevitable99@reddit
That's right. Huge stars of cricket won't be known in America.
snarfalicious420@reddit
Tbf I'm Scottish and I couldn't name a single cricket player
Silent_Frosting_442@reddit
I don't think cricket is followed by Brits anywhere near as closely as Basketball is in the USA. From how it looks to me, anyway.
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
I meant like, the average American probably couldn’t stereotype it cause they don’t think about it like how Brits don’t think about bb enough to stereotype it.
NobblyNobody@reddit
What ball?
Duanedoberman@reddit
Basketball has about the same perception in the UK as Cricket does in the US, that's none existent to zero.
Its played by very tall people and closely linked to netball, which is only played by women.
TheKingMonkey@reddit
Most people probably think of it as a game that gets played at high school and then probably never think about it again. I’d imagine a lot of NBA players could walk around the UK streets without being recognised if they didn’t turn heads by being freakishly tall.
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
Yeah I doubt Jude Bellingham could walk around the average town here without being pointed out for anything but his accent 😂
TheKingMonkey@reddit
It’s a fine accent!
(I may have the same accent.)
NicheRivers2000@reddit (OP)
I’m sure it is!
(Which one is it?)
TheKingMonkey@reddit
Birmingham.
LeeGamerUK@reddit
Me too!
BosssNasss@reddit
I played basketball in a club in high school. It wasn't a serious club though (we would play other schools but think it was mostly for fun), and there wasn't really any stereotypes that I can think of that fit in.
The only stereotype that I have is that if an American visited here and said they played basketball for a hobby, then I would imagine they are what I'd consider to be VERY good at it. I probably wouldn't mention that I played in high school,, or would mention it but distance myself from being any good at it.
No-Problem-1354@reddit
I’ve always thought it was a sport for tall people.
Far-Hospital-9961@reddit
Personally, I don’t even think about it. I don’t know many people that do either.
xxxxsteven@reddit
I enjoy bbl but very folk care about bbl. Some do about nfl. But most don't give it a second thought
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
OP marked this as the best answer, given by /u/EvilTaffyapple.
^(What is this?)
Anony_mouse202@reddit
I don’t think people stereotype it at all tbh.
Basketball really isn’t very big in the UK, I don’t think people think about it enough to come up with stereotypes.
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