NBA: Rise in a Parallel World

The NBA regular season was in full swing, with each game intensifying the competition for playoff spots.

By early December, the NBA made an official announcement regarding the best player of the month from each conference.

Eastern Conference Player of the Month: Walt Bellamy of the Washington Wizards.

Western Conference Player of the Month: Wilt Chamberlain of the Golden State Warriors.

Since the season opener in late October, Bellamy had led the Wizards to a record of 13 wins and 7 losses, securing the third spot in the East.

His individual statistics were outstanding:

33 points per game

20 rebounds per game

3 assists per game

On the other side, Chamberlain was an unstoppable force for the Warriors, leading them to 14 wins and 6 losses, ranking second in the Western Conference.

His insane stats made headlines:

48.8 points per game

24.5 rebounds per game

4.1 assists per game

8.8 blocks per game

To celebrate this historic achievement, NBA Vice President Louis personally flew to the home courts of the Wizards and Warriors to present the Players of the Month trophies in front of thousands of cheering fans.

Both Bellamy and Chamberlain became the first-ever Players of the Month in NBA history, securing their names in the league's record books.

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As December progressed, the holiday season approached.

Despite Christmas Eve and Christmas Day being widely celebrated, the NBA made a bold decision—the games would continue.

Not only would there be games, but the league scheduled two blockbuster matchups, marketed as the "NBA Christmas Games":

1. Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics

These matchups generated massive hype, thanks to relentless media coverage.

While the games were highly anticipated, the NBA didn't forget about its community responsibilities.

Throughout Christmas week, NBA players took part in charitable activities across different cities.

Superstars, whom fans usually saw dominating the court, were now volunteering in shelters, visiting hospitals, and engaging with kids in local communities.

This human side of the players strengthened the league's connection with its fanbase and enhanced the NBA's global image.

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While the league was thriving, Nathan Cole wasn't resting.

By late December, the NBA finalized a historic partnership with Hiroshi Mikitani, the CEO of Rakuten, Japan's largest e-commerce company.

The one-year contract was valued at $225 million, making Rakuten the exclusive distributor of NBA games and merchandise in Japan.

As part of the deal:

Rakuten's platforms would offer live NBA broadcasts in Japan.

Fans could purchase official NBA jerseys, sneakers, and collectibles directly through Rakuten's online stores.

Rakuten became a global marketing partner of the NBA, expanding the league's reach into Asian markets.

Nathan Cole knew this was a critical step in the NBA's globalization strategy.

Japan had a passionate basketball community, but until now, their exposure to the NBA was limited.

With Rakuten's extensive network, millions of Japanese fans would now have unprecedented access to the league.

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In another major deal, the NBA partnered with Take-Two Interactive, the company behind 2K Games, to develop an official NBA video game.

The agreement, worth $1.1 billion over seven years, granted 2K Games the exclusive rights to create the:

NBA 2K series

The game promised to deliver:

Ultra-realistic gameplay

Accurate player stats

All 30 NBA teams and arenas

A deep career mode allowing players to live the life of an NBA athlete

Basketball fans would now be able to experience the NBA firsthand from their gaming consoles.

This announcement came just months after the NBA had already partnered with EA Sports to launch the NBA Live series.

Now, with both NBA 2K and NBA Live, the league had firmly established itself in the gaming world.

These games would introduce millions of young players to the NBA brand, ensuring that the next generation of basketball fans grew up immersed in NBA culture.

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With the NBA's popularity skyrocketing, its impact on global basketball became undeniable.

Five-a-side basketball had officially replaced three-a-side basketball as the dominant format of the sport.

In response, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) made a groundbreaking announcement:

All international basketball competitions would now follow the five-a-side format.

However, FIBA wasn't just adopting the NBA's format—they were making changes to differentiate themselves.

Key Differences Between NBA & FIBA Rules:

Court Size:

NBA: 28.65m x 15.24m

FIBA: 28m x 15m

Game Ball:

NBA: 8-panel leather ball, 624 grams

FIBA: 12-panel synthetic ball, 567–652 grams

Game Length:

NBA: 48 minutes (4 quarters of 12 minutes each)

FIBA: 40 minutes (4 quarters of 10 minutes each)

Three-Point Line Distance:

NBA: 7.25 meters

FIBA: 6.75 meters

The changes sparked debate among basketball fans worldwide.

"Why is FIBA changing the rules? Just use the NBA format—it's already perfect!"

"FIBA just wants to show that they're still in control of international basketball."

"I don't care about the rules—I just want to see great games!"

Despite the controversy, one thing was clear: the NBA had reshaped the global landscape of basketball.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) then made an even bigger announcement.

At a worldwide press conference, the IOC declared that five-a-side basketball would become an official Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

This news shook the sports world.

Previously, critics dismissed the NBA's five-a-side format as just a closed-circle league.

They claimed that NBA basketball was entertainment rather than true global competition.

But now, with:

FIBA adopting five-a-side basketball

The Basketball World Cup launching in 2023

The Olympics including five-a-side basketball in 2024

It was clear—NBA basketball was no longer just an American league.

It had become the global standard.

The NBA was no longer "just another league."

It was the top basketball organization in the world.

The influence of the NBA had officially transcended borders.

Basketball, once divided by different formats and leagues, was now unified under NBA-style play.

Nathan Cole, watching these developments unfold, couldn't help but smile.

This was only the beginning.

The NBA was now the center of the basketball universe.

And it was just getting started.