In The Zone '98
Superstar
What's the Olympic record since your birth?
Kevin Durant speaks on whether the World is catching up to USA Basketball
- Thread starter SchoolboyC
- Start date
What's the Olympic record since your birth?
KnowledgeDropper
All Star
A bit of hubris from Durant
The countries that are most similar to the US demographically are probably Canada, France, UK and maybe Brazil… France is the country that seems to be taking basketball the most seriously out of these (and it is much larger than say Canada in terms of population). France is the most likely nation to beat the US 1 v 1 in an important game over the next 20 years or so.
In a US vs the World or US vs Europe three game series, it would honestly be close today.
Djoker / Giannis / Doncic / SGA / Schroeder (?) starting lineup, with Wemby off the bench, would be a problem. If SGA doesn’t qualify (in a US vs Euro situation) then start wemby at C, Djoker at PF, Giannis at SF, Doncic at SG
The countries that are most similar to the US demographically are probably Canada, France, UK and maybe Brazil… France is the country that seems to be taking basketball the most seriously out of these (and it is much larger than say Canada in terms of population). France is the most likely nation to beat the US 1 v 1 in an important game over the next 20 years or so.
In a US vs the World or US vs Europe three game series, it would honestly be close today.
Djoker / Giannis / Doncic / SGA / Schroeder (?) starting lineup, with Wemby off the bench, would be a problem. If SGA doesn’t qualify (in a US vs Euro situation) then start wemby at C, Djoker at PF, Giannis at SF, Doncic at SG
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No it isn’t. Being in the NBA is top end talent. No one comes close to producing as many nba caliber players. You guys are trying to make this like the European soccer leagues and it’s not. I have no idea what you @Goat poster @Nero Christ or @KnowledgeDropper are talking about. He literally made KD’s point.
This is literally one of the dumbest arguments I’ve ever seen made by people who aren’t stupid.
Jokic and Giannis are the same age as Anthony Davis. Who is the big from their native countries on the come up behind them? Luka just lost in the finals and has health issues constantly. Shai is an American product despite being Canadian. Every guard approaching his tier currently and in the younger ranks is American.
Wemby is a one of one unicorn. Even if you argue the “top 4” are European - players 5 through 45 are American minus Wemby.
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4 of the best 5 players in the NBA arguably are not american lol
Shai
Jokic
Luka
Giannis
I could put Embiid there if he wasnt injured all the time (though he switched to team USA like a clown). And Wemby is arguably top 5 already.
USA clearly has the best basketball talent in the world...if there was a team USA vs. the World all star match theres a good chance yall lose (top 10 of each). thats all he tryna say
IF YOU HAVE TO COMBINEALL OF THESE RANDOM WORLD PLAYERS
YOUVE ALREADY PROVEN KDS POINT
NYC Rebel
...on the otherside of the pond
Compare tennis to a team sport, brehs
Same cats saying the world hasn't caught up are the same ones saying the NBA lacks American stars and is too reliant on Bron, Steph and KD.
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
Been saying this for years
I want someone to explain the logic of doing everything in your power to grow the NBA globally....while still demanding that the rest of the world be 2nd tier NBA talent.
I don't understand this thinking, at all.
And I would add that thinking "we created this" means that other countries can't close the gap is foolish.
Canada/USA created baseball and a tiny country like the Dominican Republic is a rival, if not outright better. And now Japan is making a strong case there too.
Modern soccer/football is from England and I don't think they've won a World Cup in 50 years.
I don't understand this thinking, at all.
And I would add that thinking "we created this" means that other countries can't close the gap is foolish.
Canada/USA created baseball and a tiny country like the Dominican Republic is a rival, if not outright better. And now Japan is making a strong case there too.
Modern soccer/football is from England and I don't think they've won a World Cup in 50 years.
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Peruvian Connect
Superstar
Think about this... the last truly great American player was drafted in 2009. Three of the top 10 American players are over 35. If those 3 don't play team USA loses easily. The top 7 players in the league are all foreign. Nobody can say for sure who the best American born player is. Could be somebody 23, could be somebody 40.
AJtheOne
Nets/Giants/Yankees
They can catch up but they won’t jump ahead 