3 Reasons Adam Silver should fix the Draft Lottery for the Spurs

NBA Global Initiative

Most basketball fans know James Naismith invented basketball in the United States in 1891. What often gets overlooked when talking about its growth is how the sport spread throughout other countries. Melvin Rideout was one of Naismith's first players, and he introduced hoops to France in 1893. Worldwide inclusion has always been a goal of the game's originators, though the 1992 Dream Team gets credit (deservedly so) for the explosion of its global growth.

The NBA has shown no signs of slowing down this mission, and they shouldn't when countries across the globe produce MVP-caliber talents like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Spurs have always been a leader in searching for prospects in other countries. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili's status as first-ballot Hall of Famers is a testament to that strategy's merit.

If not for a couple of swings and misses on some overseas prospects, the Spurs would already have a core of foreign players in place with Jeremy Sochan (Poland) on the roster. From Nando De Colo and Tiago Splitter to Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih, San Antonio's dedication to a diverse roster during this period of inclusion and outreach deserves recognition. That recognition's name is Victor Wembanyama.