RIGA, Latvia - Dwayne Broyles knew he had to get off the train.
Broyles, a 6-foot-5-inch forward who currently plays for the Latvian professional basketball team ASK Riga, saw a group of men who appeared to be neo-Nazis standing at the front of the train as he traveled through Split, Croatia, three years ago. One of the men looked at him, looked at the others, and then started moving his way.
Broyles, who is black, was playing in his rookie year of European basketball in the Adriatic League. He had been warned by his agent to watch out for groups of neo-Nazis and told that assaults on minorities were becoming more prevalent.
As soon as he saw the group coming toward him, he moved to the back and made his way off to the next stop.
"I don't know if they were going to try and jump me or what, but I had to get off," Broyles said. "I was texting one of my friends telling him where I was and that these neo-Nazis are looking at me like they're coming for me."
Needless to say, he got a car for next season.
Broyles' up-close and personal scare with the disgusting face of racism wasn't the only obstacle he faced during his first year.
Broyles had to cope with culture shock, language barriers, the lack of a guaranteed contract and the sheer fact that he was thousands of miles away from his home in Canton, Ohio.
Still, he is one of a growing number of American basketball players who make the hop across the pond in order to pursue the sport.
The money's good, the players are competitive and the scenery is out of this world.
During my time in Latvia last month, I was able to see firsthand how globalized basketball has become. When I told college students that I was from Houston, the first thing I was asked was about the Rockets' winning streak. In Latvia, basketball is every bit as popular as soccer.
The NBA has done a better job of reaching out to the world than any other American sport. Players from all over are showcased and games are being watched everywhere from China to Africa to Argentina. It's gotten to the point where there's serious discussion of having an expansion team move to London or Paris.
Despite all that, the NBA might not be the most important factor in the increase of basketball's popularity. The leagues in Europe are closing the talent gap and catching up with the NBA, even if they still have a long way to go.
American players are a large part of it.
"Every team gets one or two of us to bring some flair," Broyles said. "The people over here are crazy for American players. You think that everybody hates Americans, but over here they love us."
Broyles came over to Europe to play in Croatia after graduating from James Madison University in Virginia. He decided to give European basketball a chance when one of his friends from college told him about his experience.
"The money's not bad, either," Broyles said.
After three years, he's played for three teams in two different countries. Contracts in Europe are year-to-year, so there's no telling where he could play next.
There's also the constant threat that an injury could end his career.
"Teams will just cut you then and there since you're not on contract," Broyles said.
Leagues in Spain and Italy are considered to be the best, and pay out money that rivals some of the smaller NBA contracts.
"Right now I don't really think about the NBA much, but I'm just enjoying life here," Broyles said. "If I could make it to somewhere like Spain that would be great, but I'm just enjoying the opportunity that God's given me."
Wherever he plays next season, Broyles is just part of a trend that's been going on for years. Basketball is not just an American sport anymore, and Americans should recognize it.
It shouldn't take another upset at the upcoming Olympics for that to happen.
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