Juan Toscano-Anderson: The NBA G League Is "The 2nd Best League In The World"

[peZt]

I never seen someone get so triggered by what a G league player say.

He reminds me of Leo DiCaprio in shutter island. His posts are completely delusional

That’s mirotic12 aka euroleague and he has been doing this for 20 years now
Back then his name was euroleague, whenever I visited a new basketball forum, he was already there trashing the nba and saying spanoulis is the 2nd best player in the world. Without exception he had an account on every single basketball forum that I visited in those 20 years writing the same exact rants

Though he has gotten a lot tamer with time.

[bkkrh]

One thing I still do not understand about this tournament, why every other continent is represented by actual club, meanwhile G league gets to select their all star team? Why aren't G league champions just play in this, this would probably mean very uncompetitive final I get that, as Malaga still beats their all star team no problem, but this G league team still reaches finals, beating African or Asian counterparts, so why they get to make all-league team, just seems weird to me? We could argue maybe actual G league team would get more chemistry and all that, and at least it would be even footing with African and Asian representatives. Because let say G league all stars wins this, where does the trophy even go, G league headquarters? There is no actual team here? The whole thing seems odd.

That said, I am a bit surprised G league united team still so noticeably behind random Spanish team like Malaga, there really aren't many quality players in G league, Baskonia just signed Markquis Nowell, who was a standout in G league, but he is literally 5'7, not sure thats a good signing, Baskonia has fallen off hard, they cant afford anybody good, I do not know how they still keep Euroleague spot, when they strugle making Spanish play offs these days?

Is there even a real "club" or "team" with these G league guys? They're all trying to get into the NBA and as such can be pulled away on short term contracts. The biggest problem with a g league team even in this is that they don't really have a true consistent roster. And doing an allstar grouping is just as bad.

If the g league team was winning, it would be due to them having just overwhelming talent advantages.

That and that the focus of G League teams is also not winning, but showcasing and developing the players that might become relevant for their NBA team.

[Clav]

Annual reminder we have a GL Forum Come and visit me talking to myself and Parliment


GL functions as a feeder series and developmental league, but the games are generally available online, and if you have the time or interest they can provide some pretty entertaining basketball. Especially for US audiences that may not have access or time to view other countries basketball leagues. [most games are available on YouTube, ESPN+, or TUBI].

I like GL, but there are many younger players or those that are undrafted, but not signed to other leagues around the world. That in itself puts GL at a competitive disadvantage in total basketball league power rankings because generally speaking, half the roster are very young players. With high roster turnover each year, it isn't a fair 1:1 comparison for other leagues around the world where players stay there for multiple seasons.

[Mirotic12]

One thing I still do not understand about this tournament, why every other continent is represented by actual club, meanwhile G league gets to select their all star team? Why aren't G league champions just play in this, this would probably mean very uncompetitive final I get that, as Malaga still beats their all star team no problem, but this G league team still reaches finals, beating African or Asian counterparts, so why they get to make all-league team, just seems weird to me? We could argue maybe actual G league team would get more chemistry and all that, and at least it would be even footing with African and Asian representatives. Because let say G league all stars wins this, where does the trophy even go, G league headquarters? There is no actual team here? The whole thing seems odd.

That said, I am a bit surprised G league united team still so noticeably behind random Spanish team like Malaga, there really aren't many quality players in G league, Baskonia just signed Markquis Nowell, who was a standout in G league, but he is literally 5'7, not sure thats a good signing, Baskonia has fallen off hard, they cant afford anybody good, I do not know how they still keep Euroleague spot, when they strugle making Spanish play offs these days?

They used to send the G League champions to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. But they kept getting easily beaten.

They were blown out, from start to finish, by South American teams several times. Teams from Argentina and Brazil were basically toying with them.

Then the NBA tried sending the NBA Ignite instead. They said the Ignite had more NBA level talent, and that because of that, it would be more competitive than the G League champions were. The Ignite were actually worse than the G League champions that had been sent to the competition in the prior years.

All of a sudden, the G League United was created, where they could just pick any 12 players they wanted, and basically see how many NBA free agents were willing to play for a world club championship title, and get some exposure to international leagues, and maybe get a good contract.

So now, the last couple of years, the G League United select team, is barely able to beat teams from South America and Australia, just barely, whereas the G League champion teams were blown out.

Of course, the G League all select team, still can't beat teams from the FIBA Basketball Champions League Europe. And even the best teams from BCL Europe, like Malaga, are not capable of making the playoffs, if they were in the EuroLeague.

So, basically:

NBA G League champions = blown out by teams from South America.

NBA G League Ignite = finished in 5th place.

NBA G League all star selection team = can just barely lose or win against teams from South America and Australia, in 50/50 games, but has no chance to beat European teams, even ones that are from lower level leagues than the EuroLeague, like Malaga.

Just to give you an idea how bad the G League Ignite team was, they lost to a team from Egypt.

So, as you asked, why does FIBA allow this? Why does FIBA allow the NBA to pick free agent players? Why for example, can't the teams from Asia and Africa also send a selection of 12 all stars from the entire continent of Africa or Asia?

If it is to make the cup more competitive, then why would only the G League be allowed to do that, and not the Asian and African teams as well?

The only logical conclusion, is that the NBA doesn't want to be thoroughly embarrassed by how bad this tournament makes the G League look, and that FIBA just let's them do it as a favor to them. Because the G League champions were getting easily beaten by teams from Argentina and Brazil.

[Blame Rasho]

I never seen someone get so triggered by what a G league player say.

He reminds me of Leo DiCaprio in shutter island. His posts are completely delusional

That’s mirotic12 aka euroleague and he has been doing this for 20 years now
Back then his name was euroleague, whenever I visited a new basketball forum, he was already there trashing the nba and saying spanoulis is the 2nd best player in the world. Without exception he had an account on every single basketball forum that I visited in those 20 years writing the same exact rants

Though he has gotten a lot tamer with time.

The sad thing with his 197 iq is that he is like this…

[Mirotic12]

Even tho I don't agree with Juan Toscana Anderson statement however calling the nba gleague the 20th best league is more asinine than saying its the 2nd best league in the world. Talent wise I'd argue its the 2nd best in the world. Major difference between euro league and gleague is g league has far less continuity. Good analogy would be like a blue blood program like Kentucky or Duke compared to a program thats been steadily good in recent years like University of Houston or Purdue. Houston and Purdue usually gets commitment from lower ranked hs recruits but they retain their players all 3-4 years and build off that chemistry whereas a program like Duke and Kentucky has more high end talent but lack experience/continuity due to a higher turnover rate.

99% of the players in the NBA G League wouldn't make a main rotation on even bad EuroLeague teams.

The NBA G League is many, many miles away from being the basketball league with the second most talent in the world.

[Mirotic12]

NBA (technically international because it has a team from Canada)

I just want to highlight that having a team in Canada doesn't make the NBA international. The NBA is a global league because it recruits from everywhere and has no limits on who comprises the league. 43 different countries across 6 continents are represented. More than 1 in 4 NBA players today is foreign-born. It merely is hosted in US (and one Canadian) cities. Thus it is under US jurisdiction, but is not a domestic or North American league. Its talent pool is international. Its ownership is partly international. Its fanbase and revenues are majority international. Its cultural icons are no longer just American.

Using that same exact criteria, every single decent European national domestic league is also an international league.

[Chokic]

Even tho I don't agree with Juan Toscana Anderson statement however calling the nba gleague the 20th best league is more asinine than saying its the 2nd best league in the world. Talent wise I'd argue its the 2nd best in the world. Major difference between euro league and gleague is g league has far less continuity. Good analogy would be like a blue blood program like Kentucky or Duke compared to a program thats been steadily good in recent years like University of Houston or Purdue. Houston and Purdue usually gets commitment from lower ranked hs recruits but they retain their players all 3-4 years and build off that chemistry whereas a program like Duke and Kentucky has more high end talent but lack experience/continuity due to a higher turnover rate.

99% of the players in the NBA G League wouldn't make a main rotation on even bad EuroLeague teams.

The NBA G League is many, many miles away from being the basketball league with the second most talent in the world.

The gleague is littered with very talented players. Which isnt synonymous with high caliber basketball players. They check all the boxes that scouts and gms love the height athleticism wingspan even flashes of dynamic skill in terms of scoring and handle.

The main separation between regular nba guys and gleauge imo is the bball iq and consistency. The "fringe nba guys" are made up of former college star players former 1st rd picks and high lottery picks that just couldn't latch onto team bc of consistency issues and redundancy of similar profile players on said nba roster. Theres only so many roster spots available.

Then there are guys who can really play but these guys have trouble adjusting to playing a complimentary role when they have been the star player their whole career and are used to having the ball in their hands.

Euroleague is quite different from the American emphasizing team play and strategy to overcome lack of spacing and no 3 second rule which heavily favors defense over offense which is the exact opposite of the nba. Allowing a big to camp inside the paint completely changes the style which the game is played and handicaps more athletic players.

I believe if American players came over from highschool years they would adjust to that style of ball but dropping them into euroleague that from what theyre used to I can imagine they might struggle out the gate.

[Apoe]

Even tho I don't agree with Juan Toscana Anderson statement however calling the nba gleague the 20th best league is more asinine than saying its the 2nd best league in the world. Talent wise I'd argue its the 2nd best in the world. Major difference between euro league and gleague is g league has far less continuity. Good analogy would be like a blue blood program like Kentucky or Duke compared to a program thats been steadily good in recent years like University of Houston or Purdue. Houston and Purdue usually gets commitment from lower ranked hs recruits but they retain their players all 3-4 years and build off that chemistry whereas a program like Duke and Kentucky has more high end talent but lack experience/continuity due to a higher turnover rate.

99% of the players in the NBA G League wouldn't make a main rotation on even bad EuroLeague teams.

The NBA G League is many, many miles away from being the basketball league with the second most talent in the world.

The gleague is littered with very talented players. Which isnt synonymous with high caliber basketball players. They check all the boxes that scouts and gms love the height athleticism wingspan even flashes of dynamic skill in terms of scoring and handle.

The main separation between regular nba guys and gleauge imo is the bball iq and consistency. The "fringe nba guys" are made up of former college star players former 1st rd picks and high lottery picks that just couldn't latch onto team bc of consistency issues and redundancy of similar profile players on said nba roster. Theres only so many roster spots available.

Then there are guys who can really play but these guys have trouble adjusting to playing a complimentary role when they have been the star player their whole career and are used to having the ball in their hands.

Euroleague is quite different from the American emphasizing team play and strategy to overcome lack of spacing and no 3 second rule which heavily favors defense over offense which is the exact opposite of the nba. Allowing a big to camp inside the paint completely changes the style which the game is played and handicaps more athletic players.

I believe if American players came over from highschool years they would adjust to that style of ball but dropping them into euroleague that from what theyre used to I can imagine they might struggle out the gate.

[Nate505]

The G League United all league special selection team, lost yet again, to a team from a 2nd/3rd tier European league, at the 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

The funny thing about it was how in the 4th quarter, it really seemed like Malaga felt bad for the G League players.

Once Malaga started playing defense in the 3rd quarter, they quickly took control of the game, and it was clear that the G League United had no chance.

Then all of a sudden, at some point in the 4th quarter, it looked Malaga very clearly intentionally took the pedal off the gas, and didn't want to run up the score on them.

Second best league in the world....

Come on G League defenders, where are you at?

Defend the G League now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!