The NBA’s attempt at globalization over the last decade has worked wonders for the league, as an increasing amount of its top stars are international players.
Colin Cowherd has seen the growth of international talent in the league and declared that the best players in the world come from Europe instead of the USA. Fans were divided on this sentiment.
“Europe’s best young players are now the world’s best young players. Their guys will have titles, [American] guys will have clout.”
“Europe's best young players are now the world's best young players. Their guys will have titles, [American] guys will have clout.”
– Colin Cowherd
(Via @TheHerd ) pic.twitter.com/1MtsfDxSfP
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 12, 2023
One fan called Colin out of touch.
Colin: pic.twitter.com/RJjpV9oAhh
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) July 12, 2023
Fans aren’t happy with the expectations comments like this places on young international players like Victor Wembanyama.
If Wemby dont ever win a title alot of ya gone be no where to be found. Ya placing too much pressure on a 19 yr old.
— Que (@QBoogaveli) July 12, 2023
One fan agreed with what Colin had to say.
https://twitter.com/BeyondTheData/status/1679231261582172161
Another fan pointed out the structural differences in youth basketball in Europe and the USA as one of the primary reasons.
They start playing professionally at like 15 in Europe. Probably a big reason why so many players from there are good early in the NBA.
— Marathon Pace 🏁 (@marathonpace67) July 12, 2023
One fan was upset at Jayson Tatum not being respected on the same level as the league’s top European stars.
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) July 12, 2023
One fan wanted Colin’s comments not to be widely popular.
Take the mic away from this guy plz
— Lea 💖 (@_Lgambit) July 12, 2023
On the flip side, one fan said this was the first time Cowherd has made sense to him.
First good take I've heard of him
— georg (@yorckvz) July 12, 2023
The 2022-23 All-NBA First Team saw a whopping four international players in its mix. Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo represented Europe, while Joel Embiid represented Africa. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is North American, but Canadian instead of American. Jayson Tatum was the only American on the First Team, while Second Team center Nikola Jokic ended the season as Finals MVP.
Will American Players Compete At The Top Against Top International Prospects?
When we look at individual ability, it’s clear that the best players in the league aren’t American. Outside of Tatum, most of the American players that are superstars are about to age out of the league, including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. The onus on the next generation, like Devin Booker, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell, Anthony Edwards, and more, is pretty immense given the countrymen that preceded them.
Jokic’s Finals opponents were a team led by American stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, so there isn’t as big a gap as Colin is implying. Doncic wasn’t even in the playoffs and nor was SGA, so winning titles is a different beast altogether. Jokic and Giannis have proven European stars can win, similar to what Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol did. But there are way too many talented international prospects that need to win consistently in the playoffs to make this point salient.
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