Popovich says Euro Players work harder

[Field Marshall Bradley]

SLAM ONLINE | » Gregg Popovich Says International Players are Less Selfish and More Coachable

Head coach Gregg Popovich finds them to be less of a headache than their American counterparts. Pop argues that foreign players work harder, are easier to coach, and don’t need the limelight as much.

What yall think? I think he should have qualified this statement. Anybody that is less talented has to work harder to keep a spot, that's across the board and is not race specific.

Not sure what his intent was for saying this. There is no international player with Lebron, Westbrook, Durant, Kobe, etc type talent.

He would need to have a Euro player who is equal in talent to some of the best in the league to make that statement.

They probably are more coachable no doubt, but that's probably because they have been professionals since they were 16-18.

 

[GreatestLaker]

Who said it had anything to do with race?

Last time I checked there are black international players in the NBA too.

 

[KingJudah]

Hes probably thinkin about Captain Jax , then looking at international players

Gary neal is american though, Danny Green from Strong Island, Kawai Leonard. These ni99as don't seem like they give pop problems .

 

[iamstr8fire]

I think he did qualify it though.

The traits he scouts for — players with ‘character,’ who’ve ‘gotten over themselves, who understand team play, who can cheer for a teammate,’ who ‘don’t make excuses’ — hold true regardless of nationality. The NBA draft, more than the draft in any other sport, is based on potential. With only two rounds, GMs can’t miss, and when Pop looks at American talent he sees many players who ‘have been coddled since eighth, ninth, 10th grade by various factions or groups of people. But the foreign kids don’t live with that. So they don’t feel entitled,’ he says, noting how many clubs work on fundamentals in two-a-day practices, each lasting up to three hours. ‘Now, you can’t paint it with too wide of a brush, but in general, that’s a fact.’

I saw the bold part growing up with a lot of athletes. It's a big part of American culture to cater to athletes of any age. Giving them passing grades, money, whips, etc to the point where they feel special. I remember one of the cats on the football team at Georgia Tech calling the students 'regulars' like he was somehow better than us.


Honestly, I can't speak for how foreign athletes grow up but there is likely a fundamental difference. Additionally, athletes from foreign countries are likely super thankful for the opportunity to even get in the NBA. Add that all up and it makes perfect sense.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Who said it had anything to do with race?

Last time I checked there are black international players in the NBA too.

It is about race. League is 85% black easily. Which international players are he referring to....

Ginobli? Splitter? Nesterović?

See a pattern

 

[PortCityProphet]

Euros will be pros for 5 years before getting to the league. They know how to be a pro. Where as American kids are 1 and done, Aau hyped ass dudes who think they're untouchable.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

I think he did qualify it though.



I saw the bold part growing up with a lot of athletes. It's a big part of American culture to cater to athletes of any age. Giving them passing grades, money, whips, etc to the point where they feel special. I remember one of the cats on the football team at Georgia Tech calling the students 'regulars' like he was somehow better than us.


Honestly, I can't speak for how foreign athletes grow up but there is likely a fundamental difference. Additionally, athletes from foreign countries are likely super thankful for the opportunity to even get in the NBA. Add that all up and it makes perfect sense.

I get that, and I stated that I felt international guys are more coachable.

However, being more "coachable" doesn't mean they "work" harder across the board..

He has to qualify that by saying in what regards do they work harder than their American counterparts.

Are the on time for practice? Are they shooting in the gym after hours? Etc....

 

[The War Report]

This only happens in basketball because in football/baseball, you're gonna eat that humble pie.

 

[FreedS[ohh]lave]

It is about race. League is 85% black easily. Which international players are he referring to....

Ginobli? Splitter? Nesterović?

See a pattern

Its not race its about how the kids are handled from an early age here as opposed to europe

AS dude said kids here are coddled and told they can do no wrong from about age 8 on if they have real talent so its gonna create an entitled person who thinks nobody can tell them sh!t

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Its not race its about how the kids are handled from an early age here as opposed to europe

AS dude said kids here are coddled and told they can do no wrong from about age 8 on if they have real talent so its gonna create an entitled person who thinks nobody can tell them sh!t

That makes them harder to coach..........I get that...

He said that international players work harder....

Being coddled does not equal not being a hard worker

 

[yoyoyo1]

this is funny cause its the opposite in soccer

everyone talks about how hard the americans play/work, its a stereotype

 

[GreatestLaker]

It is about race. League is 85% black easily. Which international players are he referring to....

Ginobli? Splitter? Nesterović?

See a pattern

Duncan, Serge Ibaka, Luol Deng

Its harder for international players to make the NBA than it is for American players. That's why they work harder than their American counterparts

 

[jerniebert]

I think Pop might know more about the situation then most people on the coli. Tony Parker is an international player so I don't think it's a race issue.

 

[iamstr8fire]

I get that, and I stated that I felt international guys are more coachable.

However, being more "coachable" doesn't mean they "work" harder across the board..

He has to qualify that by saying in what regards do they work harder than their American counterparts.

Are the on time for practice? Are they shooting in the gym after hours? Etc....

I honestly dont think he has to be that specific. In my opinion people who are more 'coachable' tend to put in more work than their counterparts and just have a different attitude in general. In all likelihood if he were to be more specific he would probably list everything you were about to say (showing up on time, shooting for more hours in the gym, positively accepting and acting on feedback, studying film, etc).

 

[yseJ]

It is about race. League is 85% black easily. Which international players are he referring to....

Ginobli? Splitter? Nesterović?

See a pattern

parker
diaw
mahinmi

all black

its not a racial issue, its a nurture issue. bball athletes just arent as revered in europe. moreover athletes in europe dont to a regular college where they feel superior and get all the bytches.