"You'd see more Jordans and Birds" - PJ Brown thought NBA players would have been better if they had adopted the European approach

PJ Brown was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in 1992, but a conflict in contract negotiations prompted him to take his talents to Greece, where he was signed by Panionios. In the top-tier Greek league, the 6'11" forward witnessed how different the European style of basketball is compared to the U.S.

After a brief stint in Greece, "Big Cat" learned that the European game emphasizes teamwork, competitiveness, and a less individualistic style of play. Brown then realized that in many European leagues, players are often encouraged to excel in all aspects of the game rather than specializing in one area like most NBA players have been used to.

With that in mind, PJ concluded that if the NBA had adopted the European approach to the game, it might have produced and housed a greater number of fundamental yet exceptional players.

"Everything in Europe is fundamentals, like the stuff you see in basketball camps in the States," Brown told Sports Illustrated in 1997. "It helped me a lot playing there. If we had more of that kind of philosophy here, you'd see more Michael Jordans and Larry Birds in the NBA. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in life."

PJ fell in love with Euro basketball

Brown spent only one full season in the Greek league and averaged an impressive 17.0 points, 13.7 boards, and 3.2 blocks. The following year, he finally closed a deal with the Nets and made his NBA debut in the 1993-94 season.

PJ never played overseas again, but European basketball has left its mark on him. In fact, "Big Cat" even once confessed to considering playing in Europe for the rest of his career.

"It was a priceless experience—the travels, the people, the culture," Brown recalled in 2006. "To be honest, I didn't think I was ever going to make it back to the NBA. I just had my mind set on staying in Europe."

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European players have a profound impact

Indeed, Brown's perspective sheds light on the differences between American and European basketball philosophies and their respective impacts on the sport. Foreign players frequently demonstrate high passing, shooting, and defensive skills. By contrast, Western basketball, particularly the NBA, has traditionally celebrated individual talent, often showcasing athleticism and versatile scoring.

In recent years, an influx of elite European players has made it to the NBA. They not only provided a variety in style of plays but, more importantly, elevated the standard of NBA basketball. So, Brown was right; the NBA would've been a better league earlier than it was if players and teams had embraced the European way of playing the game.

Related: Phil Jackson once shared why Larry Bird was a better player than Magic Johnson: "I think I'll probably go with Larry"