If you don’t watch the NBA on a fairly regular basis you probably also don’t like Snoop Dog. Or Pharrell. Or, Busta Rhymes for that matter. You also probably prefer your All Star roster to be introduced by a public address announcer or play by play guy. Not in between Pharrell and Snoop Dog live performances. You prefer your rock stars pants to be pulled up and lyrics to be about nightmares (Sandman) or a Stairway to Heaven. You have to leave the room if the songs are about getting lucky at midnight or big fat booties. You may even prefer defense and three point shooting. I can understand why you wouldn’t watch the NBA All Star game then. They have another idea on how the game should be played or enjoyed. I prefer their version. But, the NBA isn’t too hot around here for good reasons.

The NBA All Star Game screamed AT THE TOP OF ITS LUNGS that this was an urban league and they like it that way. No defense, dunks, funk and BET stars were all on display. They even got President Obama to let Charles Barkley interview him. And talk basketball. It really illuminates what the NBA represents culturally. One writer calls the weekend "Black Thanksgiving".  

I think that high school and college basketball fans in non-urban areas or towns with low single digit African American populations, like Boise, have a whole different experience with basketball. They like the sport but not the NBA. I grew up watching and playing basketball, from youth through High School in Los Angeles. I followed the Los Angeles City Section High School teams from inner cities, UCLA, USC and the Lakers. I played against teams from inner cities. The game was either played fast and at the rim or under control and on the perimeter. I definitely played the slower version. But, I preferred to watch the more athletic players and I had plenty to choose from.

Until I moved to Boise.

Basketball here wasn’t explosive but rather defensive in nature and with a higher regard for set plays and outside shooting in general. Idaho doesn’t regularly produce many Division 1 basketball players and no NBA players. Our colleges don’t produce NBA players. We have our own version of basketball in my opinion. It is not played at the rim in general.

I guess it feels like we are minor league fans just enjoying the game. Boise State Football has produced 19 or so NFL players in the past several years and out performs the local minor leagues in developing pro players. Even the University of Idaho produces 2-3 football pros per year. Several Idaho high school players have made NFL rosters and others have played in BCS bowl games.  Maybe we are more of a football state.

We know that there is maybe a 1% chance any of the high school or college basketball players we watch are Division 1 College or NBA worthy. We enjoy basketball but once our high school playing kid graduates or our college team is out of tourney contention, we are done. We may watch the NCAA tourney for entertainment or the NBA Finals but not with passion. Seems like we are watching a different game to me. Unless you go to an Idaho Stampede game.