Episode 3 - American Imports

There are a couple major differences between the NBA and the world’s second oldest pro basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association (otherwise known as the PBA). For one, the PBA season never really stops. Three back-to-back conferences stretch throughout the year, with the major difference being roster restrictions. Depending on the conference, teams are limited by how many “imports” they can have, and their heights. Imports are held to an all-star standard, expected to put up incredible numbers and play 48 minutes per game. In return, imports - often former or aspiring NBA players looking for a second chance at a career - are treated with the same reverence as NBA legends. In this episode, Cassidy and Nikko explore the life of a PBA import, and the legend of the PBA’s “Black Superman,” Billy Ray Bates – a former Portland Trailblazer who still holds the franchise record career NBA playoff average of 26.7 points per game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.