NBA, NFL have been "new age" sports in Australia since I was a kid in the late 70s / early 80s. Maybe you need to catch up.
Magic, Kareem, Larry Bird, Dr J, Barkley, Olajuwon, Worthy, Wilkins, Isiah Thomas, Jordan, Moses Malone.
Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Lawrence Taylor, Art Monk, Walter Payton, Ronnie Lott, Reggie White, Howie Long, Tony Dorsett, John Hannah, John Elway, Munoz,