High IQ athletes who can move off the ball and are accustomed to playing under pressure are essential if you want to compete. Bring in players with extensive European experience and Europeans themselves.
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What if Luka Dončić, who grew up in Madrid and Slovenia under systems quite similar to those in Europe, was surrounded by intelligent, athletic players who could move off the ball and didn’t back down in a crisis?
Who among the players could read the game and tell when to cut to the basket to rescue a buddy who was dribbling paint for an easy bucket and when to stand in the corner?
Players that have frequently encountered the boisterous and occasionally highly hostile pressure of a packed European stadium throughout their careers. Experience that has taught them to seize the moment, not run from the limelight, and thrive on the chance to disprove their detractors.
You are correct if this sounds a little bit like Luka Dončić. However, this also characterizes the majority of players with significant experience on a top European team that participates in the EuroLeague.
Almost every time these athletes take the court, they encounter something like this:
Playing in this environment transforms you. It either makes you develop or shrink, and in my perspective, the players that have succeeded here can succeed anywhere.
This video is from a derby match between Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, two rival teams in Serbia. Before being signed by the Dallas Mavericks, Dante Exum was a member of Partizan, a team in Europe, therefore he was used to playing in this environment the previous season. What effect does that have on a player, do you think?
Dante Exum, who was born and raised in Australia, was selected in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Prior to moving to Europe in 2021, he also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played in the NBA from 2014 to 2021, but in his only two years there, he showed remarkable progress, particularly when it came to his three-point shooting. He played for the Serbian Partizan squad for a year and then for Barcelona. He was prepared for a rotation role as a result, and he even started the Mavericks’ final four games of the season. By the way, when Exum starts, the squad is currently 4-0.
People have taken notice of him because of his solid play, steady hand, leadership in the offense, and ability to push in transition as well as include his teammates in the half court. Justifiably so.
He exudes a calm aura on this team, and we haven’t seen the Mavericks like this in a while because to his assurance and dependability in the offensive end when Luka and Kyrie Irving are sidelined.
He has even looked fantastic when playing the three, as he has done a few times as a starter. In particular, when Luka has been doubled, he has been a very effective release valve next to Luka.
Exum is a prime illustration of the advantages an NBA team can receive from a player with extensive experience playing in Europe. Role players can learn a lot from European basketball, including how to define their responsibilities and have the most impact.
That is what Exum is currently displaying. Because opponents don’t focus on him as much as they do on Kyrie Irving, he may occasionally play next to Luka more effectively because of the way his style of play complements Luka Dončić so well.
Josh Bowe of MavsMoneyball recently highlighted how important it is to have a player behind Kyrie and Luka who is more than just a spot-up shooter.
Jason Kidd, the head coach, concurs:
“He has an exceptionally high basketball IQ. You can tell that he knows how to have fun and isn’t scared of the big picture. He is making plays, attacking, and getting to the hoop. Additionally, having a third ball handler like Dante makes Kai and Luka’s game so much easier.
Being quick-witted is an excellent quality to possess when paired with Luka. It’s no longer good enough to merely stand there and wait for the ball to come to you so you can shoot. At this stage, a team needs players who can read the game, put the ball down, and create opportunities for both themselves and others in order to compete.
As the NBA demands more from its shooters than just the ability to catch and shoot, Sasha Vezenkov, the current MVP of the EuroLeague, is another excellent example of how a European-style player can be extremely important for an NBA team. Vezenkov is currently playing his first season with the Kings. His playing time with the Kings is gradually growing as he continues to show the coach how valuable his off-ball movement, cutting, and efficiency are.
The static, iso-heavy offense is a horrible concept if you want to compete, as the league is evolving and the best defenses can now adapt to shooting-heavy offenses quite simply. There’s just not enough offensive variety to prevail against excellent teams or in a seven-game series if you don’t have players who can put the ball down when necessary and think quickly. Living and dying by the three is also too risky.
In the upcoming years, dynamic and intelligent players—like Sacramento’s Sasha Vezenkov and Dallas’ Dante Exum—should hopefully become more of the standard on NBA teams, provided coaches and front office see their potential.
I believe there’s a decent potential we’ll see more seasoned European role players join NBA clubs in the future and that these players will be valued more highly.
The entrance and outflow of players into and out of leagues around the world adds a new dynamic and evolution to the game. Everyone who is passionate about basketball should want to learn from the world’s top leagues in order to produce the greatest end result. It’s just a matter of keeping up with the next generation of American and international players, who are making their mark and may be the most gifted in history. She already exists in the future.
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