Watching the grace and athleticism of the players on show at Miami’s Triple-A Arena this week, it was difficult to understand how a sport followed by at least a billion fans worldwide has been so firmly cold-shouldered. Yes, the global popularity of basketball makes it difficult to medal at the Olympics – especially by comparison with UK Sport’s niche bankers like rowing and equestrianism. Yet which of these is more likely to get teenagers off their sofas as the obesity epidemic gathers pace?