Steven Adams Says He And Nikola Jokic Mock Americans Behind Their Backs

Steven Adams and Nikola Jokic are two international centers that love having fun at teh expense of their American counterparts.

3 Min Read

Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

The international expansion of the NBA over the years has resulted in incredible talent finding their way to the league. Naturally, there have always been international players in some way in the league but they were far and few in between. Until we saw Dirk Nowitzki become a bonafide MVP-caliber player did we realize that Europe might have some of the best ball players in the world?

That has turned out to be true. The last two year’s All-NBA First Team has featured more European players (3) than American (2), showing how the tides have shifted. Outside that, there are plenty of talented players from Africa and even South America in the league right now.

Nikola Jokic is the reigning 2-time MVP and a Serbian, who is going against New Zealand’s Steven Adams in the Nuggets vs. Grizzlies matchup tonight. When Adams was asked about Jokic and their relationship, Adams had a hilarious comment.

Adams didn’t mean any actual harm by this comment and just making a slight jibe about the growing strength of international players in the NBA. Watching the centers around the world has to be tough for Team USA knowing their well-documented problems in that position. Unless Joel Embiid plays for them, they will envy having the talents of Jokic or Adams in international games.


Is This The Greatest Era Of International Players In The NBA?

As the game has grown over the years, international participation in the NBA has increased. James Harden was the last American player to win the MVP, with the last 4 years being dominated by Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Serbia’s Nikola Jokic. This year’s preseason MVP favorite was Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, and the runner-up in the last 2 MVP races is Cameroonian/French center Joel Embiid.

Players like Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, and many others played in concurrent eras, but there’s no disputing the jump in talent that international players have had over the last 20 years to start dominating the league. 

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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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