Basketball is a basket case.

[Clang McFly]

Why does America love Basketball?  I cant see anything in it. Baseball is great i love that, but we cant get it over here.

Like most sports, I imagine it's the comraderie of watching it with friends, rooting for your team, making bets with your friends for cash and/or other stuff, the excitement and anticipation of watching to see if they'll make a three pointer or the rare slam dunk(even better if they shatter the backboard).