Luka Doncic was selected third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and went on to win Rookie of the Year honors. Victor Wembanyama was the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and went on to win Rookie of the Year. This is within a six-year timeframe. In 2024, two Frenchmen went first and second in the draft, indicating that the league is entering a new era.
Some of the highest-rated players currently in the association are Europeans, which all boils down to the quick learning and development of international prospects. NBA coach Doc Rivers once issued a warning to young American prospects that "better" European players are coming into the league.
Former NBA player Rod Strickland appears to have a similar perspective. Recently on the Mark Jackson Show, the retired guard explained why overseas talents enjoy a unique development in the NBA.
"When we spoke to the European players, like they all spoke for themselves," Strickland said . "They all had questions. Our guys don't really do that most of the time; people are speaking for them, and they're quiet. The European guys just wanted to hoop. They just wanted to figure out how to get better because if I can get better, all that other stuff—all the glow, the money—that's going to come."
The European basketball system
For now, when it comes to raw talent, the NBA still reigns supreme, but star-caliber European prospects are quickly ascending. From an early age, these players are taught to master fundamental skills, tactical awareness, and the art of team play.
They take part in leagues, cups, and the EuroLeague every season, along with the European championships and FIBA tournaments periodically. All these competitions mold players into well-rounded, disciplined team players ready to slot into any role.
Meanwhile, the U.S. takes a different approach. Outside of FIBA tournaments and the Olympics, which happen once every four years, American athletes only have the NBA to compete in. As a result, young players often focus on their individual skills, aiming to be the next phenom rather than mastering the fundamentals of the game, which often comes at the expense of a more team-oriented style of play.
"This thing can get twisted," Strickland continued. "You come from being a young guy; people put so much on you, so how does that compute in your head? Sometimes you may think you're better than you are, so now how do you intake information, [and] how do you really get better?"
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Different mindset
European basketball has always had a reputation for being more rigorous, and when players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic back that up, it's hard to ignore. The pair have won a combined five of the last six NBA MVP awards.
Doncic also said it is tougher to score in the EuroLeague than in the NBA. This is a guy who just led the league in scoring last season with 33.9 points per game (the sixth highest since 1980) and owns four of the top-scoring records in Dallas Mavericks history.
Part of this might come down to the rules. For instance, in Europe, defenders can park themselves in the paint as long as they want—there are no defensive three-second violations to worry about. Luka mentioned how much easier it becomes to score a basket in the NBA, where that rule exists.
But you can't deny the hard work. That's where Europe seems to have the edge. They drill those fundamentals until they're second nature—something you don't always see in the star-driven NBA.
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