Suns star Kevin Durant had a strong reaction to claims that superior overseas training is responsible for so many foreign-born players capturing MVP honors, writes Dana Scott of The Arizona Republic.
On Wednesday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was born in Canada, extended a seven-year stretch of the NBA’s top award going to players from outside the United States. The streak began in 2019 when Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece won his first of two consecutive MVP trophies. The award then went to Nikola Jokic of Serbia for two straight years, followed by Joel Embiid of Cameroon before Jokic reclaimed it last season.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Antetokounmpo were the top three vote-getters for the award this year, and Scott points out that every finalist since 2022 has been an international player. James Harden in 2018 was the last American to be named MVP.
Durant, the 2014 MVP, posted on Twitter that the argument that foreign players have an advantage due to intense training is “corny.”
“Most of these successful international guys either are influenced heavily by American basketball culture, played high school ball in America, some even went to college here,” he wrote. “This whole convo is trash, basketball is a universal language, some people have different dialect. Some states teach the game different than other states, who says there’s a perfect way to teach the game?”
Scott notes that Durant was replying to Robert Littal, co-founder of Black Sport Online, who commented on the Netflix show “Court of Gold.” The documentary on the 2024 Summer Olympics compares the rigorous training style employed by European coaches with a more relaxed approach from their American counterparts. Durant appeared to be most upset about Littal’s assertion that “we have become a soft country.”
USA players are definitely softer than they used to be.
Let me fix that. US players jump to NBA at an early age instead of learning to play in college. Not many stay 4 years or even 3 years. So they still need to learn playing defense and team ball. Softer if you mean they hunt for fouls the European players do the same.
I don’t think it’s even about being soft. Most of the guys who were supposed to lead the next great generation of US players are just making stupid life choices. It’s not about development programs or AAU it’s simply that. All Zion had to do was be in shape and not be obese. All Ja had to do is stop hanging out with idiots with guns and making shooting gestures at people. All Scoot had to do is not show up to press conferences while high.
Guys like Tyrese Halliburton, Cade Cunningham, Ant Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, etc show that the US system is perfectly fine if you take basketball seriously as a player and don’t self sabotage.
Scoot was never at a press conference high. Not true. Pick somebody else to make your point.
link to m.youtube.com
Durant is wrong… it’s true.
Everbody on this site grew up playing that individual game on the playground (or gym) called “21”. Sometimes you played it for hours, or sometimes just until there were enough players to play 4on4 or 5on5.
The training in the US (young kids, hs players , etc…) consists of cones, Euro-steps, and 50 dribble combinations into either a step-back or side-step jumpshot…. All the training is geared to social media and seems as it’s sole purpose is to prepare young players to play a great game of “21”!!
Like you don’t have any teammates and you gotta go 1v5 every possession.
Horrible trainers and training, AAU, and social media is killing the game.
They are way ahead of us overseas – I’ve literally seen it.
If they do that USA vs the World at the next All-Star Game, I wonder what Durant’s excuse will be when the US gets ran off the court.
I also think the whole AAU circuit is at least partially responsible for the uptick in injuries. It’s all about sponsorship and making money it’s not really about the development of players. Like pretty much everything in America it’s become corporatized.
Absolutely! Players playing year ‘round since 4th grades is killing the joints – especially the young ladies.
ACL’s… Achilles… Hamstrings…
Injuries? No. Those kids would be playing anyway. AAU Is killing the sport because of the lack of fundamentals. Kids are trying to get noticed and recruited outside the school scene, so it becomes about one out two kids on a team that everyone funnels the plays through. European kids are all about the fundamentals and padding stats isn’t something they’re overly concerned with.
Didn’t the USA just win the olympic gold medal for basketball? Lol
population size does factor in. serbia is like 6 million ppl. pick a state of that size and put together a team we would get killed
The advantage foreign players have is that they are brought up learning the fundamentals of the game. They also can play professionally as a 16 year old so they can play against better players and develop.
True, but I doubt that has a lot to do with MVPs specifically. Those types of elite talents would be fine regardless of where they developed. Different story for regular rotation players.
Part of this is also that only the very best players from overseas make it to the NBA. That, and the NBA has been pushing to globalize the sport and has given international players MVP awards to mobilize that directive.
KD is correct, as usual. It’s an idiotic argument, as Shai has been living in the USA since he was a high school junior, almost all these foreign-born guys have lived in the USA since they were a child, like, what are we doing here?
Correct as usual? I can’t recall him ever being correct. He’s great at whining, though.
Just like Davey, KD is never correct and is always whining.
Most International players develop the fundamentals. US players develop whatever gets them the most exposure for their brand.
Ok, that’s one player who was at the age to play pro ball in Europe at the time, but none of the others did so he’s wrong per usual
Nope, he is right, as am I. It makes you mad how right KD and I always are. I see it, when you don’t know ball you hate people who do. Your opinions are utterly worthless if you disrespect KD.
Davey, I am 100% convinced you are just a huge troll and have no belief in the things you post. If not, you gotta get some self awareness.
@ fishy 9 dogs
Prepare to get muted by the resident Warriors troll and biggest L take poster in Hoopsrumors history, Davey J.
I back up every single thing I say with facts. I keep on topic and always talk hoop. I am not a troll. I am consistent. If anything, all these haters on here are the ones trolling me, not the other way around.
Stop gaslighting anytime, fishy. Talk basketball or shut up.
The internet has made you far too comfortable. Gaslighting? Now I know you’re trolling. Lmao
In Europe they value talent, in the USA seems that the main thing is athleticism and physical ability which really does not matter much in basketball… talent and fundamentals always come on top, make no mistake about that!
Durant being Durant like always.
I personally love KD’s online style. He’s just like us for real haha
The reason internationals are thriving even with similar education is simple…
American exceptionalism, much like Lakers or Warriors exceptionalism, makes the average kid lazy…
They think they dont have to try because they were born in the right country… Much like a lazy trade proposal from a blinkered fan which ignores the CBA…
Whilst international players know that doesn’t matter at all…
If you want your career to be more meaningful and significant kd pls listen and just need to go home here in maryland and suit up, help the wizards.
Seriously, been saying that for years! He’s got the nats tat. Just go home
“Most of these successful international guys either are influenced heavily by American basketball culture, played high school ball in America, some even went to college here.”
None of Jokić, Antetokounmpo, Nowitzki, Dončić, Wembanyama etc. played a single game at U.S. high schools or colleges.
Durant just puts his usual insecure illiterate self at display again. The world owes everything to the U.S…. yeah right. Nothing to see here.
You literally listed the only 5 guys who didn’t play in the USA. Guys who’s COUNTRIES knew they were basketball phenoms since they were like 3 years old in Luka’s case, and gave them millions to develop them in-country. Such a clueless take. Name more players like this – you cant.
Anyone who hates KD or his takes is just clueless about everything. Imagine thinking you know ball more than KD, you gotta be the most delusional psychopath IRL.
“KD is illiterate” after you wrote this complaining about his written out takes really is just pure racism. Reeks of “shut up and ball” from you aka an absolutely worthless take. That’s you to this convo: worthless.
Lots of opinions.
KD twitter posts getting full articles what has this site become
A site that panders for Davey J for clicks
Its called “hoopsrumors” what did you think it was? ESPN?
What is wrong with the world getting so good at basketball? The only sport left that’s dominantly American talent is football.
Davey J blocked almost everyone cause he can talk trash but thinks he’s exempt from it.
Turn the allstar game into USA vs world.
SGA,Luka,Giannis,Wemby, Jokic will wreck any USA starting allstar 5!
Fundamentals, both ends, team first, high IQ ball versus athletic individuals, me players. If the NBA played FIBA rules and didn’t play favourites the foreigners would be even better. Infact, I think if the NBA doesn’t adopt FIBA rules soon, the days of getting beat by baby shaq and the likes on the international stage will definitely be back. Someone as self absorbed as KD will be shocked, wont see it coming. International play the whole team USA has a different role. Other countries are a seamless fit playing the exact same role on their regular team. Nevermind the fact most been together years. France are 100% coming for the States and arrogance will get you beat. It seems to me KD doesn’t like foreigners labelled smarter players, especially when younger. Do the foreigners take offence to being called slow, non athletic on funny tests?