Why was Team USA basketball booed in Athens 2004 but cheered in Beijing 2008?

Question

By their respective locals.

Answer 1

Because China is huge on Nike, and a ton of our best players have deals with them. Example...Lebron

Answer 2

There are a few reasons. Mostly, it's because the USA Coach, mike krzyzewski, when interviewed by a European Reporter, referred to the Greek players by their number. He didn't even learn their names. In an interview he was like "Number 14 did this, number 8 did that, etc" and everyone in the European media viewed that as disrespectful and arrogant.

In China, they are newer basketball fans ever since Yao Ming came to the NBA, so just to see those guys play in real life (especially Kobe) was HUGE for them. Basketball is BLOWING up in China ever since Yao, so that's a huge reason why.

Answer 3

What up Trer,

Probably because Greece is considered one of the top threats to the U.S.A.

In China- Kobe, LeBron and several of the other US players are very popular- i think Kobe is the #1 jersey seller in China- so other than when they played China the fans love team USA.

Nickster

Answer 4

It all goes toward the fact that Beijing has exposed itself to the NBA more than in Athens.  All that is needed is to search the rosters in the NBA, and you will see that Chinese make more of a stand in the NBA.

Answer 5

One word: Kobe.

Answer 6

Because the Greeks don't love basketball and follow the NBA like the Chinese do.

Answer 7

because the team has Kobe thats why people cheered!!