Fans React To Colin Cowherd’s Controversial Take About International Players Against American Players: “USA Is Falling Behind!”

Colin Cowherd's claim of international players fighting for titles and USA players fighting for clout hasn't gone over well with fans.

3 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

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.” 

One fan called Colin out of touch.

Fans aren’t happy with the expectations comments like this places on young international players like Victor Wembanyama.

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.

One fan was upset at Jayson Tatum not being respected on the same level as the league’s top European stars.

One fan wanted Colin’s comments not to be widely popular.

On the flip side, one fan said this was the first time Cowherd has made sense to him.

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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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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