Nikola Jokic is looking to pull off a historic hat-trick of MVP trophies this season, as the reigning 2-time MVP hopes to lead the Denver Nuggets all the way to the championship with his supporting cast returning from the injuries that have plagued them for the last few seasons. Jokic spent the summer staying in shape and playing for Serbia in EuroBasket. NBA stars like Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo also played heavily in the tournament before their quarterfinals elimination.
Giannis came out and said that European basketball was tougher because of the rules, something that even Doncic has said earlier. Jokic has joined them in their assessment of the rules being easier in the NBA after being asked about it during the Nuggets’ media day.
Nikola Jokic on if European basketball is harder than the NBA:
“Is it harder? Yeah, just because [in Europe], you need to have really quick thinking.
In the NBA, if you go by the guy you can see the help coming. In Europe, the help is already there.” pic.twitter.com/7XhcrCbksP
— Dionysis Aravantinos (@AravantinosDA) September 26, 2022
“It’s a different game. Of course, it’s a little bit because of the rules. A little bit with the spaces on the floor, the 3-point line. There’s no defensive three-second violation in the key. The floor is smaller. The big man can be in the paint. The 3-point line is shorter. It was a new, old experience. I didn’t play for the national team for a long time. Is it harder? Yes, because I think you really need to have quick thinking. In the NBA, if you go by the guy, you can see the help is coming. In Europe, help is always there. So, you need to think and play ahead. It’s interesting.”
Why Is European Basketball Considered Tougher?
Everybody agrees that the best players in the world play in the NBA. The quality of talent in the NBA far outweighs that of other leagues, but FIBA rules tend to make the larger worldwide game a more challenging effort. The NBA has made multiple rule changes over the years to make offenses flow better, which FIBA doesn’t have.
The biggest difference is the 3-second under-the-basket rule, which forbids players from standing under the basket for longer than 3 seconds. The NBA observes this, while FIBA doesn’t, meaning defenses can stay stagnant and prevent almost all driving lanes from being open.
That’s why Jokic is alluding to finding pockets of space quicker because defenses can’t stay stagnant in the NBA with the rule set. There are various other differences in the rules including fouls not being as leniently handed out, so these differences can keep players like Luka, Giannis, and Jokic sharp as they look to lead their teams to NBA glory this season.
