If that was the case then soccer/football, the world's most popular sport would have a major presence on prime time American TV screens (major networks). American ballers and their skillset are the prime motivators of the popularity of the NBA globally and I admit with a healthy sprinkling of top notch Euro players in the league . I remember reading a story that Chinese fans wanted real NBA gear(jerseys) when Jeremy Lin was sizzling with the Knicks and would eschew the purchase knock-offs which is a popular market in their country. And lets not forget, Marbury has a statute in his honor while still playing the game. A global ambassador of the sport.
Stephon Marbury escaped the New York Knicks and is thriving with the Beijing Ducks, the reigning Chinese champions.
http://www.businessinsider.com/college-basketball-players-overseas-2012-5?op=1#ixzz3elGcHPEi
China's NBA Love Affair | The Diploma
Of course, the most revered basketball player in China isn't
Yao Ming, even during his playing days, but
Kobe Bryant, whose popularity in China far exceeds that in the U.S.