The development of basketball coaching in Finland is strongly associated with coach Robert Petersen, who arrived from the United States in 1949. Petersen moved permanently to Finland from the United States in 1959. “Petteri” can be considered the first basketball immigrant in Finland.
Foreign basketball players began to move to Finland in the 1970s particularly from the United States. Initially, this was due to individual personal contacts but eventually became a broader phenomenon. The influx of players multiplied in the 1990s, and more foreign reinforcements were recruited for women’s teams as well.
Many players who dreamed of professional sports careers were deterred by Finland’s harsh winter and returned to warmer countries. On the other hand, players recruited from U.S. college leagues considered Finland a steppingstone to more lucrative leagues in Europe. However, some players who came to Finland on temporary contracts ended up staying permanently. Many of them grew fond of their Finnish clubs and the country during their stay, settled down and started a family.
By 2015, about 640 different foreign players had played in the men’s basketball league in Finland, of which about 140 played for more than one year. About thirty of them played for more than four seasons, and at least 16 players who came to Finland for basketball obtained Finnish citizenship after settling permanently.
Sports is sometimes hereditary. Gerald Lee and Leon Huff, who are considered to be among the best players in the history of the Finnish basketball league, had sons who became elite basketball players themselves. Gerald Lee jr. and Shawn Huff have also played for the Finland’s men’s national team in the 2000s.
