SWEDEN
A beautiful country and a quality league, Sweden offers comfort off the floor and competition on it. The top league in Scandanavia, Sweden has strong teams in Norrkopping, Planja, Sundsvall and Stockholm. Quality Americans are attracted with two allowed per team. Sweden offers a comfort level veteran players enjoy enticing them to settle in and finish their careers. Other young players might see Sweden as a springboard from Scandanavia south to mainland Europe in better money countries. Norrkopping hosted the last European Championships in September 2003.
FINLAND
A good league with a distinct gap between top and bottom teams, Finland is a good place to start a career and a comfortable country to play in. Although the winters are long and hours of sunlight in a day may be limited during the season, teams such as Honka, KTP and Prybasket are traditionally good places to play. Honka has competed in FIBA Europe League for several seasons. Teams take 2 Imports and often choose an athletic power forward for rebounding and shotblocking with a point guard to run the team. Teams based in the south (and around Helsinki) are usually easier to adjust to --- most northern teams are in small towns. Finland ranks just behing Sweden in Scandanavian basketball.
DENMARK
Denmark basketball operates at a low level compared to countries like Spain or Italy. Ten teams compete in the Basketligan first division. American import players (usually low level pros) can earn anywhere from 500 to 1500 euros a month. Like many other leagues, 2 American imports can play on a roster. Interestingly, if an American player is on a roster for 7 years, he counts as a Danish player. Because the competition is better elsewhere in Europe, many of the top Danish talents leave for bigger leagues. Unfortunately, poor facilities, little money, few fans and lack of tradition describe basketball in Denmark.
NORWAY
8 clubs comprise the BLNO (Basketball League Norway). Traditionally, Asker Aliens have been the team to beat. Behind Sweden and Finland in money, depth of good teams and general interest in the game, BLNO is slowly trying to improve their level of play year by year. Two American import are asked to stuff the stat sheet in Norway. Off the floor, Norway also is working to improve their level of professionalism. No team from Norway has participated in a European competition in recent seasons.
