With ‘demanding’ Filipino fanbase, NBA bolsters presence in PH:’ We do more here’

NBA Asia Managing Director Scott Levy speaks to members of the media during his roundtable discussion Wednesday at the NBA Office in Bonifacio Global City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The NBA is undoubtedly the most influential basketball power in the world with its roster of athletes each having millions in fans and followers.

Despite all that global reach, though, the league doesn’t implement a general formula when it comes to the different countries.

NBA Asia Managing Director Scott Levy said the league focuses on a certain country’s trait and would adjust their approach depending on that quality.

“For us it starts with localization, every country in the world has a different habit,” said Levy during a media roundtable Wednesday at the NBA Office in Bonifacio Global City.

“Just interacting with any brand or sport, our focus is to start with how the local product works here in the Philippines.”

The Philippines has been one of the countries the NBA has put a foothold on for the past few years with programs such as the Jr. NBA enhancing the grassroots scenario of the country’s basketball-loving population.

It’s not only in this initiative that the NBA strengthened its influence in the archipelago as the sporting association regularly brings over current players and legends during the offseason.

Levy said the Philippines already has a culture of basketball implanted in it even before the NBA established base and all they had to do was to build on that and in the end incorporate their brand into the Filipinos’ consciousness.

“Our key approach is to make sure it’s embedded in the culture instead of asking the people to consume our product,” said Levy. “We do more here. We never think it’s easy here because the Filipinos are demanding.”

“For every market we have a different strategy and the Philippines is really something we work on.”