The NBA has become a global game, and it is obvious considering the amount of non-American talent in the league. Due to the shift of emphasis around the league to shooting and skill-based players, Europeans have been welcomed into the league with open arms. European players are known to have refined skills such as shooting, dribbling, and passing; and are often more unselfish in their style of play.
- The Greatest Player In The World Is Greek
- The Age Of Dominant Centers Is Back, And Both Are Non-American
- A Slovenian Superstar As The Face Of The League
- The Only Threat To The European Superstars Is Kevin Durant
- Internationals Are Here To Stay, And Americans Might Not Be Able To Compete
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That fits the current mold of the NBA, and that is why we are seeing more European and non-American players compete in the league. Going forward, we will probably see even more come in. But non-American players have not only come to the NBA, but they might also have taken over for good. Currently, the top-4 MVP candidates are all non-American. Giannis Antetokounmpo is not only the reigning NBA champion and 2-time MVP, but he might be the best player in the world due to his ability on both ends of the court.
Similarly, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are right on Giannis’ heels for the MVP award this season and they two are the undisputed kings of their positions. In terms of skill and all-around impact, both Embiid and Jokic have performed like top-3 players in the world. Finally, Luka Doncic is considered the next face of the league because what he is doing at only age 23 is extraordinary. The Slovenian is truly a once-in-a-lifetime star.
Gone are the days where American players own the league because right now, the “Mt. Rushmore” of superstar players consists of 3 European players and 1 African player.
The Greatest Player In The World Is Greek
It is safe to assume that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the world. Not only has he won 2 MVPs and a Defensive Player of the Year award over the last 3 seasons, but he won the NBA title and Finals MVP last year for the Milwaukee Bucks. As a Greek native, Giannis is doing things on the floor that are spectacular to watch.
When have we seen a 6’11” power forward with ball-handling and length that Giannis has? Never. The Greek Freak will be the favorite again this year for the Bucks to win his second Finals MVP and NBA title, and that is something NBA fans will probably have to get used to. So far this year, Antetokounmpo is putting up 30.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.4 BPG.
In terms of two-way play, no player comes close to Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is too long, skilled, and physically dominant to be placed under anyone. He is also showcasing elite clutch shot-making and decision-making, including his 50-point performance in Game 6 last year and a clutch shot against the Brooklyn Nets to send the game to overtime last week.
The Age Of Dominant Centers Is Back, And Both Are Non-American
The criticism of current NBA players and modern centers is officially dumbfounded. Big men are back and are dominating the game with force and skill. Joel Embiid is a Cameroonian, and he has arrived as the face of the 76ers and the most skilled offensive center in the game. Averaging 30.2 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.5 BPG on 49.3% shooting from the field are certainly MVP numbers by a potential future Hall of Famer.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic continues to shock the world with his fantastic passing ability as a center. Many times up the floor, Nikola handles the ball as a point-center. We have never seen that before, and probably never will. Jokic is a natural passer and on-court leader because he has the size to haul down rebounds and the guard-like ability to take the ball the length of the court and find his shooter. Of course, he is a force in the post with a silky touch. So far this season, Nikola is averaging 26.8 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 8.0 APG, and 1.4 SPG on 58.3% shooting.
The two bigs are here to stay, and the era of elite centers could be starting all over again. While neither of them dominated the paint like Wilt or Shaq in terms of physical force, they are doing it in their own way via skill and shooting ability.
A Slovenian Superstar As The Face Of The League
At the young age of 23, Luka Doncic will soon become the face of the league. The Slovenian is already an MVP candidate and triple-double threat for the Dallas Mavericks, putting up superstar numbers. This season, Luka is averaging 28.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 8.7 APG while consistently leading the Mavericks to playoff positions every year.
Dallas seemed to be in for a long rebuild, but Luka is simply too good and too talented to not contend for a title. Thanks to the Slovenian, Dallas are looking for ways to improve the roster by adding the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie this season. The Mavericks, and the rest of the league, realize that Doncic is special and the NBA could be his for the taking.
After all, who are the threats to his position? Zion is constantly injured, Jayston Tatum does not pass the ball or rebound like Luka, and Trae Young is simply too small. Doncic has almost no competition as the next face of the league and he is 4 years younger than the current best player in the world: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Only Threat To The European Superstars Is Kevin Durant
There is no doubt that the 4 non-American superstars own the league right now, and are stealing all the headlines. The only player that can contest them at this moment in time is none other than Kevin Durant.
We saw how the USA barely managed to win the Olympic Gold, and if it wasn’t for KD, the Americans would have had their reputation destroyed as the greatest basketball players on the planet. Even Gregg Popovich claimed he would have “begged” Durant to play for his side. The Slim Reaper certainly showed up, taking over in clutch moments to carry the USA to victory.
Of course, despite his injuries and missed games, Durant is having an excellent season by posting 30.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 6.1 APG on 52.4% shooting from the field.
Durant will be 34 next season, but he has the skills to still be a dominant player, even if his athleticism starts declining slowly. There is no doubt that KD is a better shooter and all-around scorer than Giannis, Embiid, Jokic, and Doncic. We have not seen a player with the skillset and size of Durant before, and he is the Americans’ only hope for having a North American dominate the league as the top star in the world.
Internationals Are Here To Stay, And Americans Might Not Be Able To Compete
Europeans and non-American superstars are here to stay for the long haul. Giannis is only 27, Jokic is 27, Embiid is 28, and Doncic is 23 years of age. That means for the next 7 years to a decade, the league will be in the hands of non-American superstars. Giannis has already placed his name atop the list with his team success and individual accolades, and that will not change over the rest of the 2020s decade.
Kevin Durant will find himself older and slightly less impactful over the next 2 to 3 seasons because Father Time is undefeated and will always be. That means Giannis will likely continue as the best player in the world, while Embiid and Jokic will battle for position as the best big man in the world. There is simply no threat to the two bigs in that regard, and both are in their prime currently.
Finally, Luka Doncic will be the face of the NBA. Zion Williamson has a chance, but he has not shown the ability to stay healthy and remain motivated enough to take the throne. Zion is almost 22 years old and has not dominated the league like Luka has until this point. With Doncic the face of the league and 3 other non-European players controlling the narrative of each NBA season, Europeans are here to stay thanks to the paradigm shift of skill-based players with high basketball IQ.Â
