Comments on: Boston Celtics: Least internationally diverse NBA team

By: The Boston Celtics: No Longer Filled with Irrational Fear! : Celtics PoleStar

The Boston Celtics: No Longer Filled with Irrational Fear! : Celtics PoleStar — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:12:39 +0000

[...] About a year and a half ago, the blog Interbasket made a bold and ridiculous statement. After doing intensive research of the Celtics scouting practices, interviewing people in the organization, interviewing former players, and gathering substantial evidence looking at rosters and draft selections, the people of Interbasket concluded that “the Boston Celtics are the most xenophobic team in the NBA the last five seasons.” [...]

By: The Point Forward » Posts Is there such a thing as ‘too international’? «

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:04:50 +0000

[...] team in at least three years, every team in the NBA has at least one foreign player. The Celtics, derided in some quarters recently for their lack of international diversity, filled that void by signing Turkish big [...]

By: Yao Ming

Yao Ming — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:30:10 +0000

Should international diversity really matter? In any sports team, it’s just natural to pick the best players available. If any team in the NBA or any other league doesn’t sign a foreign player, it’s because they are not good enough for the club. Simple logic. If you want to build a better team, get better players.

One question though. If the CBA or any other league will allow each team to sign more than two foreign players, what do you think they’ll do? Are they going to sign more foreign players? Probably.. but not necessarily. One thing’s for sure though, they’re going to sign the best player available

By: A Cool Thing About Possibly Trading for Rudy Fernandez – NBA BIG 3 - Miami Heat Big 3 | Boston Celtics Big 3 | LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:02:54 +0000

[...] the modify of the 2009 season, the journal Interbasket concluded the C’s had been the small internationally different team in the NBA over the fivesome preceding seasons. This doesn’t rattling anxiety me; I tending most [...]

By: Milwaukee Bucks boasts most International NBA Players on opening night; Celtics, Pacers have none |

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:00:42 +0000

[...] The Los Angeles Clippers join the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers as the only NBA teams with no international players. Boston and Indiana continue their lack of international diversity with zero foreign-born players on …. [...]

By: anen

anen — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:09:04 +0000

xenophobic is just the wrong word dude yes too strong a word doesn’t fit here

By: anen

anen — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:06:20 +0000

I agree with Abhinav ^^^ with that definition. This is a very Misleading article. Come on How about withing Americans How many of the Celtics are Boston Natives? or Wizards are Washington natives? ect. Besides this International thing is David Stern’s Idea (he’s American!) his idea Wanting to expand the NBA market. How many Laker Jerseys are being sold overseas now??? These are Franchise Basketball teams! run by Big Cities with money to buy great players from where ever that be from within the U.S. or Outside. When the international players start running the U.S. National Basketball Team then U should start panicking xD Lol

By: Today’s Celtics Links 10/27 « Flceltsfan’s Weblog

Today’s Celtics Links 10/27 « Flceltsfan’s Weblog — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:27:11 +0000

[...] [...]

By: John

John — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:46:57 +0000

This is a stupid, these players are basketball players, why classify them on where they were born. Its like were accepting a new policy that each team should have atleast 3 foreign guys? lol

By: Abhinav

Abhinav — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:07:07 +0000

I think you make one egregious error in your post in that you equate a lack of diversity with xenophobia. Xenophobia, by definition, does not imply a lack of foreigners, but rather a *fear* of foreigners, those who are different from yourself. While these statistics are startling, I think your word usage is too strong and overall misleading.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:32:02 +0000

I am not blaming these teams for anything, just pointing out what the data looks like. The fact of the matter is these teams are far below the average as far as international diversity. Tomorrow (or Wednesday) we’ll see how that correlates with winning.

It’s speculative, but it does say something about the scouting and resources some teams have (not all, but some).

Admittedly, xenophobic might be a strong word… used to draw eyeballs to the article.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:26:27 +0000

You know what else those five teams had in common?

They were all way over the salary cap. So when it comes to filling out a roster you’re relying on draft picks and veteran journeymen who are willing to sign for the NBA minimum.

I can understand not wanting to draft an international player on a team that needs someone who can contribute right away. Not every team has the luxury of leaving a Sun Yue on the reserve list in hopes he gets better in a couple years.

Every once in a while you get a Nenad Krstic who will sign for less than the mid-level exemption.

But, for the most part, most International players are either really good or are really young and their teams will hope they become really good.

Don’t blame teams if they don’t want to spend whatever picks they and little money they have to spend on projects just because it’s trendy.

Can you blame the Celts after getting burned by Jiri Welsh? What about how Jasikevicius picked Indiana when he could have had his choice of many teams and he was horrible there?

Songaila went to college here but what did Pecherov do?

What about Fesenko in Utah?

I’m a Lakers fan so I’m not defending any of the teams you listed for any reason other than you’re being wrong.

There’s a difference between xenophobia and a coincidence.

If you can play you can play. If you can’t help right away find another team that wants you.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:38:35 +0000

@AJ: yep you’re right, a miss on our part. Added/edited to reflect Joel Anthony on the 2007-08 and 2008-09 squads. Thanks

By: aj

aj — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:23:48 +0000

Miami had (have?) Joel Anthony on their roster. He’s Canadian, therefore international.

By: Garron

Garron — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:07:05 +0000

Danny actually persued Rubio in the offseason. I’m pretty sure that makes him not xenophobic.