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Do we prioritize local heroes or chase international stars?

It’s a question that recently came up during my podcast conversation with Coach Iurgi Caminos, who leads the Taoyuan Pilots in Taiwan’s P. LEAGUE+. Coach Caminos hails from Spain—a basketball powerhouse that has its own debates over how to balance domestic and foreign players—and he offered a unique perspective on what it means to truly elevate a league’s quality while still nurturing homegrown talent.

Most basketball enthusiasts have felt this tension, whether you’re a casual fan cheering on your local league or a coach trying to map out next season’s roster.

On one hand, bringing in foreign stars can raise the level of competition, attract sponsors, and help your league gain international credibility. On the other hand, fans in every country love seeing one of their own shine on the big stage. As soon as you flood a league with imports, critics argue, it becomes harder for up-and-coming domestic players to get meaningful minutes—or, in some cases, to make a roster at all.

In our discussion, Coach Caminos shared firsthand how Taiwan’s league attempts to navigate this balance. He also compared it to Spain’s ACB, a league that doesn’t restrict European Union players due to EU labor laws but faces constant debate about what this open-door policy means for Spanish talent.

If these are questions you’ve been dying to explore, stick around. This newsletter tackles both the push for higher-level competition and the danger of leaving local talent behind. We’ll dive into the core tension—protecting locals vs. embracing foreign arrivals.

The Thin Line Between Protection and Progress

Many leagues implement roster restrictions to safeguard opportunities for domestic players, often capping the number of international signings to maintain a competitive balance. The logic behind these policies is straightforward: If local players aren’t protected, they’ll be overshadowed, and the league’s national identity could suffer.

But Spain’s ACB operates under a different reality.

Because of EU regulations, Spanish teams have no limits on European players. Some rosters barely feature Spanish talent, leading to concerns that young prospects are being pushed out by established international players. The challenge for leagues everywhere is to find a balance—how much restriction is necessary to protect local players versus allowing the market to shape rosters naturally?

But the tension isn’t just about development. There’s a business side to it as well.

The Business of Basketball vs. Development of Players

Mandating local-player quotas can have unintended consequences. When every team is required to carry a set number of domestic players, demand increases, often leading to inflated salaries for top-tier local talent. At the same time, excessive reliance on imports can stifle local development. Why invest in a 19-year-old prospect when you can sign a proven 28-year-old from overseas?

Foreign stars undeniably bring media coverage, sponsorships, and fan interest. And they don’t just sell tickets—they elevate the competition.

As Coach Caminos pointed out, having multiple imports in Taiwan has improved the overall competitiveness of local players. Facing elite foreign athletes, even for just 20 minutes per game, can be more transformative than logging 40 minutes in a lower-level environment where no one truly challenges you.

Still, the debate roars on. If those same local players never get the chance to be on-court in crunch time—because the coach trusts the high-priced imports—they lose vital real-game reps. Too much reliance on foreign talent might bolster short-term results at the expense of building a robust local pipeline.

Better Competition Breeds Better Players

One of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with Coach Caminos is that quality minutes in a competitive environment matter more than just racking up playing time.

He underscored that the best local players in Asia—like some of Taiwan’s emerging talents—really grew in leaps and bounds once they regularly went head-to-head with stronger imports. Mistakes made against top-tier opponents turn into lessons that accelerate development.

In Spain, a similar effect occurs: if a young Spanish talent can hold their own in the ACB against established European veterans, they naturally level up faster than they would in a league that was local-only. Thus, the irony is that restricting foreign spots might actually weaken local players if they aren’t consistently tested.

Finding the Right Balance

There’s no perfect formula.

As Coach Caminos put it, “Where is the perfect balance? Nobody knows.” Some argue for moderate import rules—allowing a set number of foreign signings while ensuring locals get meaningful opportunities. Others believe in open competition, trusting that the best players will rise to the top regardless of nationality.

Every league has its own culture, financial constraints, and fan expectations to navigate. But one thing is clear: the debate over how to balance domestic and foreign players isn’t going away anytime soon.

Around the world, leagues are experimenting with different approaches, from strict quotas to nearly unrestricted rosters, in search of the sweet spot. As Coach Caminos emphasized, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to avoid short-sighted decisions. If a league overindulges in foreign signings without a clear development plan for domestic talent, local players may stagnate or look elsewhere for opportunities.

But when done right, having foreign talent in the league can accelerate growth rather than hinder it.

If you’d like to dive deeper into these dynamics—like how Spain handles EU players or how Taiwan’s P. LEAGUE+ is evolving—be sure to check out my full interview with Coach Caminos. We talk about the concept of “20 high-quality minutes vs. 40 easy minutes,” and how short-term goals versus long-term local development can clash or converge.

​Click here to watch or listen to the podcast with Coach Iurgi Caminos.​

I hope this newsletter sparks some reflection on how your favorite league (or team) manages the local-import equation. Are they overprotecting domestic talent at the cost of competitiveness, or are they oversaturating rosters with imports, leaving locals to languish on the bench? Feel free to hit reply or comment with your thoughts on the perfect balance—if one exists at all.

Remember: the greater the challenge, the greater the growth. That’s as true for local hoops hopefuls facing off against international stars as it is for leagues tinkering with roster rules.

Quick Q&A

• Do you prefer unlimited imports or strict quotas?
• What’s an example of a balanced approach you’ve seen succeed?

Your take matters—drop a comment or send a message.

Thank you for reading.

- Jordan

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