The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), in collaboration with the Center for International Sports Studies (CIES), has released the 2024 “International Basketball Migration Report” (IBMR), revealing a historic increase in player transfers. This annual report, now in its 13th edition, examines FIBA’s international transfer data with analytical support from CIES to provide insight into trends in player movement and other global basketball dynamics in the 2023-24 period.
The IBMR 2024 has shown continued growth in the sport globally, with new records in international transfers. For the first time since the IBMR was launched following the 2010-11 season, it surpassed 13,000 international transfers, reaching a total of 13,149 moves. This figure is split between 10,051 men’s transfers and 3,098 women’s transfers, both setting new standards in player movement.
INCREASE IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
Compared to the 11,787 transfers in the 2022-23 season, the number of transfers has increased by 113% since the 2010-11 season, highlighting an exponential growth. A relevant fact is that 20% of players who make an international transfer move twice within the same calendar year, reflecting the increasing mobility in international basketball.
The report also includes a global overview of the countries with the highest player export activity. The United States remains the largest exporter of players, with 2,050 men and women participating in foreign leagues. Spain ranks second with 708 exported players, while France ranks third with 630 players in international leagues.
GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF PLAYER MOVEMENT
At the league level, competitions in Spain, Germany and Italy have the highest numbers of foreign players, reflecting the popularity of these leagues among international players. As for players under 21 years of age (U21), Argentina stands out as the country with the highest number of these players, thanks to regulations that encourage their inclusion in teams. In China, U21 players receive more court time in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Australia has started to receive more transfers from Europe, particularly from Germany and the United Kingdom, while Africa maintains a neutral balance between player imports and exports. There was also a notable increase in international players migrating to the United States to compete in NCAA Division I, reaching a record 826 men (up 5.8% from the previous season) and 828 women (up 7.1% from 2022-23).
STATEMENTS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF FIBA
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis expressed his thanks to CIES for their continued work on this analysis. “I would like to extend my thanks again to CIES for their work in this field. This important collaboration keeps us informed about the growing number of transfers and player movements, in addition to the crucial data derived from the league analysis.”
Zagklis also emphasized FIBA’s commitment to continue to closely monitor this trend. “As we see another increase in the number of international transfers – now surpassing 13,000 after surpassing 11,000 in the last report – we will continue to review this trend closely, maintaining a solid focus on exploring the key issues surrounding global player transfers.”
FIBA AND THE PROTECTION AND GROWTH OF BASKETBALL
In his closing remarks, Zagklis stressed the importance of understanding player movement for the growth of global basketball. “Millions of players around the world, as well as the 212 national federations, look to FIBA in its role to safeguard and also grow the sport globally. Understanding player movement is a fundamental part of achieving this.”
The IBMR 2024 report thus becomes an essential tool for assessing the direction of world basketball and changes in player migration, enabling FIBA and national federations to make informed decisions for the future of the sport.