It's a nagging refrain, especially among European players who return to Europe after playing in the NBA. The Great League would thus be more athletic, with more intrinsic talent, but the Euroleague would for its part be more collective, more intelligent and ultimately closer to “real basketball”.
This is what Alen Smailagic said recentlythe Serbian from Zalgiris Kaunas having returned to the Old Continent three years ago after never managing to make a mark on the other side of the Atlantic.
“It may not be the best league in the world, but it’s the smartest. You have to know how to think to be able to play. The NBA is more acrobatic, more for fans to watch.”
Asked by L’Equipe about this debateas he gains strength with Olympiakos, Evan Fournier has, with his usual frankness, explained that this debate had no interest.
“If you bring back Kevin Durant, do you really think things won't revolve around him? »
“This conflict between pro-NBA and pro-Euroleague, to know who plays better or more intelligently, I find it bogus, a two-pronged war, something of the self-conscious thing we have in Europe, wanting to compare ourselves. The Euroleague is more based on the collective, less on the stars, OK. But it’s because there are fewer stars! If you bring back Kevin Durant, do you really think things won't revolve around him? »
The French guard notes that the rhythm is certainly different between the two leagues but he is annoyed that we are trying to promote the Euroleague… by demeaning the NBA.
“In the NBA, everything is exacerbated to excess, the number of possessions, the frantic pace, the first intentions. Afterwards, saying that you don’t defend in the NBA is a gross caricature” he blurted out like this. “With stronger individuals and rules that favor attackers, it’s obviously more complicated to do it. And then, report the big Euroleague matches of 40 to 48 minutes and you will see that the difference is not as obvious. Why not focus on the big talents we have here and just enjoy the game? You can enjoy it without denigrating. The Euroleague has more and more credit. Let's work on this basis instead of being arrogant. »
