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OhA.D. There were only 21 international players in the league on the opening night of the 1990-91 NBA season. At the end of the 2021-22 season, there were 121 players representing 39 different countries.
Half of that number is European, and basketball is American. International game In the absence of other traditional sports, European players have established a permanent position in the NBA, overcoming long-standing foreign players’ perceptions of softness, slowness and athletics.
Nowadays, Europeans do not just prepare the numbers. When the All-NBA teams were announced earlier this summer, three out of five players voted as the best Europeans in the league. For the past four years, the league has won the MVP in Europe.
But opinions about basketball as an international game often take only one direction.
Since 2000, the share of Americans in the European Premier League has increased by 119%. At that time, Americans’ share of the Euros increased by 76 percent.
But unlike the United States, a select few have been promoted to the NBA and WNBA and the rest have dozens of leagues of different sizes and levels in Europe, and hundreds of Americans take the opportunity every year to continue their work. Getting some money abroad and seeing the world.
WNBA editor and former Spanish and Swedish league player Mehrin Cracker told the Guardian: “The only thing you learn when playing abroad is the level you want.” “The level of strength you want, the level of commitment, is there. Sometimes it comes with a big salary sacrifice or the sacrifice of a suitable country.
But how do American players working abroad adapt to life on and off the field in the Europa League? The Guardian spoke to a number of players on the continent about life and basketball in another part of the pond.
What do you expect to see in that life?
Devante Wallace (Lithuanian, Finnish, Czech, Polish, Romanian, British and Austrian leagues) “This will be hard and difficult and will be a longing for home. But he [former college teammate] He was saying that the level of skill there was very good. [and] European basketball was indeed a textbook.
Mehryn Kraker (Spanish, Swedish leagues) “I think I had a good idea. [before starting her career with Cadi La Seu in Spain’s Liga Femenina de Baloncesto]. My sister beat gymnastics, and [they] I travel to Europe… So I went to Europe once or twice.
“It looked like a free ticket to travel, but I don’t think you can prepare for it until you get there.”
Did you miss something about life in America?
Kirby Burkholder (Italian, Hungarian, Belgian and Polish leagues) “The most important thing is the relationship with your friends and family.” [and] Sometimes Breakfast ይመስለኛል I think America has the best breakfast.
Biscuits “American Simplicity… American culture has made everything easier. You have everything you need in a store and it is always open.
Wallace crying “They were not there when we went to the restaurant. [and] I usually miss being able to talk the way I talk to my friends አለብ You have to speak the truth, really slow, so they can help you. Words may be lost in translation.
How was the first arrival and the cultural shock?
Cheick Sy Savane (Montpellier Basket Moson, France) “French people may be very cold at first, but once you have a real relationship with these people, you have lifelong friends.
“These are strictly forbidden, enjoy life, drink wine at noon and maybe go back to a lifestyle. It was very difficult to adapt to fast-paced areas like New York.
Burke holder “It was a very difficult year. I called home a lot of times ውስጥ You are entering that first year is a big new transition, and many players including myself have a strong first year with a total cultural shock.
Wallace crying “It was difficult to lie. My first week and a half [in Austria] ነበር It was hard. I stayed in my room, I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to do anything. ”
Burke holder We had our teammates on a half-hour smoking እን We went out for dinner and they went out for a smoke break [and] We thought that was crazy.
Biscuits: ”Spanish and American culture are no different. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Spain. I think Spain was one of the strangest and strangest countries to me. But I think the Spaniards are good at balancing work and life, almost … I didn’t know dinner was late. It was a big adjustment from the states.
What about language?
Savana mourn “Probably the hardest part. The moment I arrived in southern France, every time you went south, they didn’t even try to speak English. No, you speak French here or you never speak… so I have to learn.
“He [the language barrier] They are going to alienate you and create alienation, ”he added,“ there is a preconceived notion of capturing Americans in foreign groups: they seem to be there to take someone from there first.
Burke holder “You need a teammate to go with you ረዳ or you’re trying to play and point cards.”
Biscuits “Being in a little bit [Spanish] There were not many tons of English speakers in the city… I took five years of Spanish high school and a small college, but I don’t think it will prepare you until you are baptized.
What makes Europe better than America?
Biscuits “Other people’s opinions are very respectful. I have never had as many honest and open conversations as I did when I was in Europe.
“Europe as a whole embraces a variety of lifestyles, and public transportation is much better and more encouraging.”
Burke holder “The train – you can just jump. Any holiday [in Italy] We were touring the train… We were in a very central place, we could go to Rome, to Florence. One of my favorite things to play overseas is to travel and see new places, learn the culture.
Wallace crying “I was used to taking the train. Public transportation in the United States is very scary.
Biscuits “Food quality in Europe is much better. When we got home from the gym for the first two years, we were really spoiled, we had fresh fruits and vegetables twice a week at the farmer’s market. [in Spain]. And I remember going back to the states and going to the grocery store and picking apples twice. [as] It was expensive, and it had no taste.
Is there anything worse?
Burke HolderThey are well-known financially and I had a lot in my club. [in Poland]. We didn’t even have a coach that special year … He was a great player to play and train.
“I was paid eight months late, and I was not even sure if I would be paid,” she said. “The most difficult thing about overseas basketball is the business sector: In the United States, if you sign a paid contract, you really don’t have to worry about it. But you can sign a European contract and you are not sure if you will get that money.
Wallace crying “In the first year I saw three or four people cut off from the team. I only saw the men cut from three games. They played badly, they didn’t pass the ball. I saw the men without pay. There were some wild experiences.”
What are the differences in style of play?
Biscuits “In general, the physicality of the Spanish league was something I never thought I was ready for. I remember shaking the first two games and ok this is Spanish basketball.
The Spanish style is very fast and the ball screen is super… very fluid, and everyone knows how to get the ball in and out.
Wallace crying “European basketball is completely different. They move the ball a lot, they play hard defensively. It is sealed with paint because there is no protection for three seconds. [rule]. ”
“It’s not even the fact that they are. [Lithuanian league players] It is a fact that they are very skilled, very knowledgeable about the game. They don’t want to scare you, they just want to impress you. ”
“It’s more physical here. You will not receive calls in the United States or you may not call at all. It’s really, really physical. “It’s really a physical league. The people there are playing dirty,” he said.
Burke holder “Travel calls are more strict. The first year was a difficult one for Americans because it was a unique step we could take in college ዬ My teammate had a lot of problems, she used to play an average of two passengers in one game.
Savana mourn “It’s more of a team game. The American player is king. I noticed that in Europe the team is king, the coach is king. “It’s a little harder to score in Europe,” he added.
How does the game compare?
Biscuits “The Spanish league is much better than it was in college. You’re playing with women in the Olympics and between the ages of 10 and 15 ተዋል They’ve seen and done everything.
“Every team in Spain had a list of WNBA players – every night it was a big league and a lower league game.
Burke holder “These are the top teams in the Europa League, there are a lot of people who can hang in the WNBA – you get a lot of players. [in the Italian leagues] Of course, like some WNBA girls, he can play well. When she was in Belgium, the standards were even more different. The league has two top teams – one in the Europa League and one in the Champions League – but the rest of the league is “some can compete with the high school team. ”
Savana mourn “The level at which I played [French M3] Can be compared to. [NCAA] Part II አት Athletics in the US is completely another beast, ”he said.
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