For the first time in NBA history, the top 3 players are arguably internationally born. How do you feel about this?
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Jokic top 3 isn’t even a funny joke.
Lebron and Steph are two of the top 3. This thread has no merit
Lebron and Steph are two of the top 3. This thread has no merit
An important fact about the basketball globalization: it goes both ways...
Undrafted black Americans often go to Europe or Asia and become professionals...
The best players are still earning millions, and some even get into the NBA later in their carrier...
I'm not sure about the number of foreign players in Asia, but in Europe almost all teams have foreigners, and they are often black Americans...
Their number considering all European leagues in all countries is probably in the hundreds...
Undrafted black Americans often go to Europe or Asia and become professionals...
The best players are still earning millions, and some even get into the NBA later in their carrier...
I'm not sure about the number of foreign players in Asia, but in Europe almost all teams have foreigners, and they are often black Americans...
Their number considering all European leagues in all countries is probably in the hundreds...
get these nets
Veteran
Yeah. People forget that Big money lured Dominique Wilkins to Euro leagues BEFORE he played his last NBA game.
Kobe spoke fluent Italian because his father played in the professional leagues in Italy after his NBA career was over.
Plenty of ex college stars play for teams in Europe if they don't make it to the league.
Globalization does work both ways.
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I don't have a list, but having KAT over a back to back MVP is illogical. I shouldn't have to explain why a back to back MVP is top three.
If you want to argue Giannis, KD, and Curry bring ahead, I would entertain it, but KAT? Come on.
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The top-8 right now is really difficult to talk about/define.
Giannis, Embiid, Jokic have the obvious regular-season case. Steph proved in the playoffs that he is up there too, Giannis and Jokic have established themselves in the postseason as well. LeBron, Durant, and Kawhi seem to still have the potential to be among that group but Durant was disappointing and LeBron/Kawhi weren't healthy enough the last two years to count in that group by the postseason. And Luka has been good enough in regular season and postseason both that it's fair to put him somewhere in the conversation.
I don't see how anyone picks a clear top 3 out of that group without factoring health and team and very different offense/defense roles into the equations.
DoubleClutch
Superstar
How is Curry not top 3?
I’ll give you Giannis but anyone else is up for debate
KD is about to reclaim a spot in the top 3
So it’s
Curry
GIANNIS
KD
I’ll give you Giannis but anyone else is up for debate
KD is about to reclaim a spot in the top 3
So it’s
Curry
GIANNIS
KD
Greenhornet
A God Among Kings
I can see what you are saying but they aint the top 3
europe been in this too
you gotta be young too, the european talent is better on a whole
and they market towards white players for decades. its a way to promote and grow the league
yao and lin... all them asian players are test dummies for the asian players to come in the next decade or two
white people by default are gonna be fans of white players because they relate... they want that bread and marketing.
nikkas love sports so much too that they cant read the room
most of these players are given legacies. Thats why you didnt get Kobe VS Lebron finals
too much money would be lost forever... Nba is a business that makes billions after retirement
its not like boxing or music. David Stern and Adam Silver operate very differently, marketing wise.
Lakers Celtics with Kobe was always gonna bubble
Lebron was always gonna win with Cleveland
they arent going to crash narratives to destroy a players legacy
Giannis winning was legacy and amazing talent wise
but it was bigger than that for the NBA
if you play the game right like Lebron, Steph, Giannis, etc you are rewarded as a top player. You are building the league into a storyline that lasts decades.
Obviously players can change the outcome through greatness, but the league knows what they want and how to tilt shyt into their favor. Its what keeps actual debates alive. KD going to Golden State was his choice, but it helped the league... it helps the Warriors dynasty and Steph... it helps the Lebron narrative... it gives a backdoor for a debate. It solidified KD in a way... it helped everything come full circle and make more money in all directions. The league made it clear that it doesnt ride completely with or for KD... he got his and they are like "now stay over there and be happy...keep making us headlines" Thats why after the trial with Kobe, the league turned their back. They couldnt market him like they wanted, they had to veto trades and keep him on middle ground. He cant represent the face of the league like that, he had to grind and create his own lane.... and he did. They will make sure Luka wins one 100% unless another white player comes whos better.
europe been in this too
you gotta be young too, the european talent is better on a whole
and they market towards white players for decades. its a way to promote and grow the league
yao and lin... all them asian players are test dummies for the asian players to come in the next decade or two
white people by default are gonna be fans of white players because they relate... they want that bread and marketing.
nikkas love sports so much too that they cant read the room
most of these players are given legacies. Thats why you didnt get Kobe VS Lebron finals
too much money would be lost forever... Nba is a business that makes billions after retirement
its not like boxing or music. David Stern and Adam Silver operate very differently, marketing wise.
Lakers Celtics with Kobe was always gonna bubble
Lebron was always gonna win with Cleveland
they arent going to crash narratives to destroy a players legacy
Giannis winning was legacy and amazing talent wise
but it was bigger than that for the NBA
if you play the game right like Lebron, Steph, Giannis, etc you are rewarded as a top player. You are building the league into a storyline that lasts decades.
Obviously players can change the outcome through greatness, but the league knows what they want and how to tilt shyt into their favor. Its what keeps actual debates alive. KD going to Golden State was his choice, but it helped the league... it helps the Warriors dynasty and Steph... it helps the Lebron narrative... it gives a backdoor for a debate. It solidified KD in a way... it helped everything come full circle and make more money in all directions. The league made it clear that it doesnt ride completely with or for KD... he got his and they are like "now stay over there and be happy...keep making us headlines" Thats why after the trial with Kobe, the league turned their back. They couldnt market him like they wanted, they had to veto trades and keep him on middle ground. He cant represent the face of the league like that, he had to grind and create his own lane.... and he did. They will make sure Luka wins one 100% unless another white player comes whos better.
Based off great white hype
Jokic has the #4 all-time Playoff PER and the #3 all-time Playoff BPM. He's been elite in the playoffs his whole career averaging 24 PPG, 12 Reb, 6 Ast, 52 FG%, 40 3P%.
NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Box Plus/Minus | Basketball-Reference.com
Checkout the complete list of NBA & ABACareer Leaders and Records for Playoff and more on Basketball-Reference.comwww.basketball-reference.com
NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Box Plus/Minus | Basketball-Reference.com
Checkout the complete list of NBA & ABACareer Leaders and Records for Playoff and more on Basketball-Reference.com
How far has he made it in the playoffs?... and who's to say this will hold up by the time his career is over...
murksiderock
Superstar
Giannis is the best player in basketball heading into the '23 season. After that, it's a free for all...
Jokic and Embiid are in the conversation but I don't know that they are quite Top 3. I'd probably default to Steph over those two, but I don't actually believe Steph is one of the three best players in basketball. I also don't believe LeBron is one of the three best players in basketball, but he and Steph are just more proven to a different degree than the other two...
Kevin Durant is up there but his showing in the playoffs has to knock him down. Kawhi hasn't played in over a year..
If I had to give second place it would be Luka. That third spot I'd default to Steph but it's all up for grabs after Giannis, he's the only guy in The League who's distinguished himself from the pack at this point...
Jokic and Embiid are in the conversation but I don't know that they are quite Top 3. I'd probably default to Steph over those two, but I don't actually believe Steph is one of the three best players in basketball. I also don't believe LeBron is one of the three best players in basketball, but he and Steph are just more proven to a different degree than the other two...
Kevin Durant is up there but his showing in the playoffs has to knock him down. Kawhi hasn't played in over a year..
If I had to give second place it would be Luka. That third spot I'd default to Steph but it's all up for grabs after Giannis, he's the only guy in The League who's distinguished himself from the pack at this point...