The European Development Model

Why do European players in the NBA often excel in areas like teamwork, ball movement and shot selection?

This could be a reflection of their youth development, with the club model leading to more beneficial principles developing across age groups. This contrasts greatly to the individualistic focus often seen in AAU, with European systems prioritizing playing together to create advantages.

[barondavisiscool]

Defensive principles are a thing but NBA rules make that hard in itself. As a former European pro (Spain), this is probably closer to the truth than what most think.

Americans focus on individual skills, going against your peers.

Europeans focus on teaching the game from a team perspective, usually standout players become that way through their own talents or opportunities.

Europe doesn't have anything close to the competitiveness in college ball, its usually either pro, semi pro or self made. Uni and college leagues in Europe are mostly a joke

[abeingidk]

Luka plays great defense(this year) but the NBA is choosing that when they show stat lines they ignore the defense stats likes steals and blocks. This one game he had a thirty point triple double and in that game he had 3 blocks and steals

[robertmathis]

In Europe they finish school at 16 which allows them to train full-time. Meanwhile American kids are worried about aau and free shoes

[ElvisMoro-yedn]

They all play football it’s a game where u have to think 100 times more than basket ball and it’s played with your feet so switching to basketball u have good foot works and an advantage touching the ball with your hand

[zursmith]

is the common theme not playing defense ?