It’s been 7 years since an American last won the NBA MVP, and 8 years since an American won the DPOY. Sounds crazy, right? But gone are the days when the league was solely dominated by Americans. The NBA’s mission to “inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball” has truly paid off. The league is no longer just a US phenomenon- it’s become a global attraction. Overseas players are now dominating, and Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl knows exactly why.
It all started when Boris Stanković led the charge to let the NBA players play in the Olympics, paving the way for the birth of the “Dream Team.” The world finally got a taste of the NBA’s level of play, and over time, international fans began to follow the league. Now, 7-8 players from the top 10 in the NBA are from overseas. The league currently boasts 125 players from 43 countries, while only 326 are from America, highlighting the sport’s global popularity, and major credit for this goes to the 1992 Dream Team.
Speaking with Dan Patrick of NBC Sports, Bruce Pearl goes in depth about how overseas players are slowly taking over the NBA and dominating it. He says, “Worldwide, it’s, it’s really popular and, you’re right. Some of these international players, European players, are playing the game better than our guys have. One of the factors has been just the skill level that they are brought up through a training program that isn’t like high school, AAU, college, so on and so forth.”
This has been a key difference between the European and American development pathways. European players often come through well-structured club systems that provide high-level coaching from a young age. These systems emphasize skill development, basketball IQ, and fundamental techniques, offering players a well-rounded basketball education.
This is exactly what Dan Patrick points out when he said, “It feels like what Europe and other countries are doing is they get you into a system, learn how to handle the ball, learn the fundamentals, be a big guy, handle the ball on the perimeter. Like all of these things, it feels like the U.S. is missing out on that opportunity.”
In the U.S., the path to professional basketball usually goes through high school competition, AAU circuits, and college basketball. While this system produces highly athletic and skilled players, it sometimes places more emphasis on winning and exposure than on comprehensive skill development.
Pearl also points out that the size and athleticism of players make it tough to play inside. With such big players, there’s no room for post play. Teams have started spreading the floor, focusing on shooting and ball handling. Which is basically the European approach to the game. And this probably explains why overseas players are dominating the league.
This led Dan Patrick to ask an interesting question to Pearl, to which he gave a smirky reply. Let’s check that out.
Bruce Pearl thinks Shaquille O’ Neal would still dominate in today’s game
When asked what he’d do if Shaq were his center, who built a reputation for driving inside and scoring instead of taking three-pointers–Bruce Pearl had an interesting reply.
Shaquille O Neal In Poland. Shaquille O Neal attends the Hey, This is Shaq Basketball Tournament in Warsaw, Poland, on August 28, 2024. NBA, Basketball Herren, USA legend Shaquille O Neal visits Poland as part of a marketing campaign, promoting his personal brand SHAQ and the latest Reebok collection. Warsaw Poland PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMarcinxGolbax originalFilename:golba-shaquill240828_npQdx.jpg
“Oh, I’d find a way to, I have, I have Johni Broome right now and, and, and, and we’re going to find ways to get him inside and run our offense accordingly. So, no, no, you give me Shaq. The only way you’re going to stop him is to hack a Shaq,” said a confident Bruce Pearl. At the end of the day, it’s about creating plays for your best player, suiting their style rather than following the norm.
Bruce Pearl’s insights highlight how European players’ development through structured systems and skills-focused training has allowed them to dominate the NBA. As the game evolves, this style of play–emphasizing fundamentals, shooting, and ball handling has become key to success. Pearl also suggests that the key to success isn’t just adapting to the style- it’s building plays around your best players, just like he would with Shaq or how he does with Johni Broome.
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