Eleven years ago Lithuania's basketball team were showered with sympathy after suffering a 51-point defeat at the Olympic Games to a United States side made up of the sport's greatest names.

Earlier this month, Donnie Nelson, president of operations at the Dallas Mavericks, travelled to Lithuania where he tried in vain to persuade Arvydas Sabonis, a member of that losing team, to come out of retirement.

In those 11 years, north America's National Basketball Association (NBA) has grown increasingly dependent on the rest of the world to supply players.

When Michael Jordan and Larry Bird secured gold in Barcelona in 1992, the United States were praised by some for teaching the world how to play basketball.

When the new season starts on Wednesday, 20 percent of NBA rosters will be filled by non-Americans.

NBA commissioner David Stern happily embraces the possibilities created by the league's cosmopolitan flavour.

On a visit to Paris in October, Stern outlined his vision for the future which is likely to see Europe hosting NBA teams and games by 2010.

Andrew Messick, vice-president of NBA International, said recently: "We would like to be able to grow our base in Europe -- have the Los Angeles Lakers come over every year, for instance, so the fans here could see Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant."

TRAINING CAMPS

Even if the prospect of an NBA team in Madrid or Barcelona seems distant, it is pertinent to consider that not so long ago the mention of a non-American dominating an NBA season would have been preposterous.

Things are changing rapidly and, in the short term, the NBA will explore avenues such as training camps and involvement with European leagues.

While Europe is top priority, Asia and Mexico are other areas on the NBA's agenda. This week, the Los Angeles Clippers and Seattle SuperSonics are showcasing the NBA in two official league games in Japan, the sixth time regular-season fixtures have been played in the country.

As the NBA realises it needs a global market to compensate for tough times on home soil, the franchises are learning that they ignore foreign players at their peril.

"The beauty of this trend is that you just say 'may the best players play'," Terry Lyons, the NBA's vice-president of international public relations, told Reuters.

"It does not matter where the players come from, all the (NBA) teams now know that they have to scout internationally.

"It has changed operations and increased the level of competition here. American kids know there is now greater competition for places and this gives them an extra incentive."

PEER RESPECT

No longer are foreign players just making up the numbers on benches from the Staples Center to Madison Square Garden.

Many, as Frenchman Tony Parker and Argentine Emanuel Ginobili showed in winning championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs last season, can earn the respect of their American peers.

Others, such as the Houston Rockets' Chinese centre Yao Ming -- number one draft pick in 2002 -- and the Detroit Pistons' 18-year-old Serb Darko Milicic -- number two overall in this year's draft -- are icons-in-waiting.

"You have to have contacts in all those areas," said Bob Zuffelato, Toronto's assistant general manager, in the close season.

"We've had to expand our scouting. We've hired a European scout. We can't hire people in every continent but we do have a presence. It's important -- look at the players that are coming over here."

The trend distinguishes basketball from the three other classic north American sports. American football, ice hockey and baseball remain almost insular in comparison to the NBA which is broadcast in more than 200 countries in 42 languages.

The NBA is proud of its rampant expansion and some people believe homegrown American players can learn a thing or two about how to sacrifice their tendencies to show off in favour of a greater team ethic, as displayed by foreign players.

It is the ultimate revolution -- the rest of the world teaching the US how to play basketball.

There are signs the revolution is already producing results. The world champions are now Serbia and Montenegro, crowned last year in a championship which left the US in sixth position.

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