Why are Euros > White Americans in the NBA?

Concept Coop · Post #1 » by **Concept Coop** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:42 pm

I ask this question hoping for a mature conversation and not a racial rant or spat.

But why do European white players fair better in the NBA than American white players?

haschel cedricson · Post #2 » by **haschel cedricson** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:47 pm

It's science.

edfmx86 · Post #3 » by **edfmx86** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:48 pm

Cuz they can sell a foul

Rasho Brezec · Post #4 » by **Rasho Brezec** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:03 pm

Because they're more experienced.

Concept Coop · Post #5 » by **Concept Coop** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:09 pm

Rasho Brezec wrote:Because they're more experienced.

How so? Basketball is just as popular in the US. Most NBA players start playing when they start walking.

amb1ent · Post #6 » by **amb1ent** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:19 pm

white americans specialize in "veteran leadership" and "locker room presence" and "intangibles" and "high basketball iq", whereas international players have actual skillsets

</green>

Jase · Post #7 » by **Jase** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:22 pm

I wanted to argue that there's more than a handful of good white American players, but...the list I come up with consists of bad ones....Keith Van Horn was the first one I thought of.....

So, there's John Stockton.....

da.vid · Post #8 » by **da.vid** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:26 pm

best point guard = jason kidd (white american)
best shooter = jason kapono (white american)
best defender = euros cant defend
best dunker = chris andersen (white american)
best center = gerg ostertag (white american)

Volcano · Post #9 » by **Volcano** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:28 pm

American white guys are surrounded by superior black players who are asked to dominate the ball by coaches. So the white guys end up getting more role player duties and never develop an ability to take over games or be a star player.

Euro white guys don't face this same teammate oriented competition, so the better ones are asked to do more and are able to build more fundamental star qualities due to the increased attention on them compared to the white American.

Cevap · Post #10 » by **Cevap** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:33 pm

jason kidd is not white

rockybalboa11 · Post #11 » by **rockybalboa11** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:33 pm

because euros are in the same sitution that many black are in america

make it big being a basketball player or die way before you're supposed to in your neighborhood

sp6r=underrated · Post #12 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:35 pm

A few possible reasons come to mind but I'm not sure if any are true

1. Basketball in the US is seen as the Black Man's game. Top white athletes may either be steered to other sports or avoid it on their own.

2. Volcano's theory may be true, that white players in Europe get more playing time at the elite level due to the lack of African players. This allows them to more develop their skills.

3. Basketball may be the poor man's game for cultural reasons. Most but not all basketball players come from poor backgrounds. Eastern European whites, were the majority of Euros hail, are substantially poorer than American whites.

But again, I don't know.

Aventador · Post #13 » by **Aventador** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:36 pm

jason kidd isnt white.

Post #14 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:36 pm

Jason Kidd is not white

da.vid wrote:best point guard = jason kidd (white american)
best shooter = jason kapono (white american)
best defender = euros cant defend
best dunker = chris andersen (white american)
best center = gerg ostertag (white american)

sp6r=underrated · Post #15 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:37 pm

Cevap wrote:jason kidd is not white

Unless you believe in the racist one drop rule, he isn't black either. Kidd is biracial. His father is black but his mother is white.

hype_2004 · Post #16 » by **hype_2004** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:38 pm

Contrary to popular opinion, Euros are more athletic than the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Americans esp those originating from the Balkans. The are also genetically predisposed to being taller than average Caucasian as many are well over 6 feet tall opposed to the 5'8 average for American whites(just go walk around the streets of Slovenia and see for yourself).

Rebel INS · Post #17 » by **Rebel INS** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:03 am

I thought the answer to this question was pretty obvious. Euros come up through PROFESSIONAL leagues. The wheat is separated from the chaff a lot better than through the college system which has lesser overall talent, pressure and professional expectations.

Guys like Adam Morrison would never get a license to chuck over there.

da.vid · Post #18 » by **da.vid** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:04 am

TheOUTLAW wrote:Jason Kidd is not white

da.vid wrote:best point guard = jason kidd (white american)
best shooter = jason kapono (white american)
best defender = euros cant defend
best dunker = chris andersen (white american)
best center = gerg ostertag (white american)

fine

best point guard = steve nash (white canadian)
best shooter = jason kapono (white american)
best defender = euros cant defend
best dunker = chris andersen (white american)
best center = gerg ostertag (white american)

Sanjan · Post #19 » by **Sanjan** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:12 am

best white center is probably sabonis

rz04 · Post #20 » by **rz04** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:17 am

da.vid wrote:
best point guard = steve nash (white canadian)
best shooter = jason kapono (white american)
best defender = euros cant defend
best dunker = chris andersen (white american)
best center = gerg ostertag (white american)

Ostertag

ps Nash was born in South Africa