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A Former Wake Walk-on Finds Some Of The World’s Greatest Basketball Fans

And it’s probably not where you think.

By JD King

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New Mexico State v Grand Canyon
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament between the New Mexico State Aggies and the Grand Canyon Lopesat the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images

Most Americans would be absolutely shocked to learn that the country where basketball is probably most popular isn’t the US and it’s not Lithuania, Spain or Argentina.

It’s most likely the Philippines. Those people adore the game like nowhere else.

So when former Wake walk-on Troy Rike says that an atmosphere matches the intensity of Duke vs. UNC, it might sound hard to believe, but it’s probably true. If the NBA was really smart it would schedule an exhibition game there every season just to honor the incredible passion that country has for the game. Fans who go completely nuts for, let’s face it, less than average basketball would absolutely lose it for a major event.

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