Land of the Unicorns: Will the surge of European talent into the NBA continue?

The steady increase of European players over the last decade or so in the NBA has been well documented through the likes of Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki and the Gasol brothers. With a new wave of talent coming in from Europe, with one Kristaps Porzingis being hailed as a ‘Unicorn’ by Kevin Durant; can this rise in standout players coming over from across the Atlantic be maintained?

The Current State of Play:

In terms of figures, there are currently 76 European players occupying roster spots in the NBA and NBA G League affiliate teams, compared to just 47 in 2012. In 2016 there was one European player on every NBA team roster, a statistic which would have baffled pundits and experts around the league 15 years ago.

Nowadays however, even as we watch the twilight years of Dirk and of Tony, we are being treated to an up and coming European class of players. No more are the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic seen as among the cream of the international crop; they are considered some of the best players the league has to offer full stop. Giannis, Porzingis, Jokic and recent draftees Markannen and Frank Ntilikina represent the future of the league; bigs no longer content with size as their main weapon or only having range from inside the paint. Players like this want to shoot like Steph, post up like Cousins and pass like Rubio, and this is why more and more eyes are looking into European talent.

The surge in European talent now centres (not exclusively) around 7 footers or stretch forwards who can shoot and put the ball on the floor on the offensive end, yet anchor down the middle of the paint and act as an intimidating force and shot blocker on defence. There are of course exceptions, but the disparity in the grasp of the fundamentals between 7 footers in Europe vs. America is abundantly clear. Take a player like Andre Drummond or Deandre Jordan; hulking athletic centres who will always rely on size, athleticism and sheer power to earn a living. Compare this to Pau Gasol, to Porzingis or Jusuf Nurkic, highly skilled bigs who possess footwork, shooting ability and fundamentals and who are less likely to have injuries simply because they don't need to beat their body up to fulfil their role. As well as this, we see crafty European guards who also make up for a lack of athleticism with tremendous court vision, scoring ability and overall savvy. Whilst the emphasis is on the stretch, do it all big from Europe, guards such as Teodosic and Dennis Schroder provide a pass first mentality from a position that has morphed into a ‘score first’ role over the years.

There are of course exceptions to the rule; Anthony Davis as an American do it all big or now retired Montenegrin bruiser Nikola Pekovic, but the European presence in the NBA is becoming more and more prominent because of the style of play that has taken over the league.

What has Caused the Surge?

The rise of the Unicorn and European players in general can be attributed to the emphasis on floor spacing, position less basketball throughout the league. Stretch bigs who can shoot the 3 are extremely valuable, not to mention athletic floor generals, as the age of the point guard is clearly in full swing. However, the surge over the last decade in European talent entering the NBA is not purely down to basketball talent, with one particular franchise standing out as a pioneer in developing international players.

The San Antonio Spurs, under the guidance of the legendary Coach Popovich, have successfully maintained a team first mentality for nearly two decades; something which can be attributed to Pop’s affiliation with coaching foreign players. In 2013 he was quoted as saying that international players are “fundamentally harder working than most American kids”, holding an increasingly popular opinion that American athletes are more susceptible to developing a sense of entitlement. The facts don’t lie for the Spurs, as they have had a winning season every year since 1997 after Coach Pop took over the reins in 1996 and installed the ‘sacrifice for the man next to you’ ideology that many teams now try to enforce. This principle is already something engrained in many European clubs; and in an age where superstars are collectively joining forces to win, a team first mentality not only helps spread the love (and scoring), but keeps egos in check in a league where players can hold more leverage than the coach and front office. Pop helped tap into a market of selfless players who earn their playing time and reaped the rewards as a result, paving the way for European players heading into the league and eventually becoming successful franchise cornerstones.

Kobe Bryant has echoed the actions of Greg Popovich and the Spurs organization, claiming “European players are just way more skillful. They are taught the game the right way at an early age”, criticizing the AAU for not teaching American players the fundamentals. Again it is hard to argue against this standpoint. Take Ricky Rubio, a point guard who isn't labelled as athletic by any stretch of the word, yet is statistically one of the best defenders at the point guard position. Yes his shooting has always hindered his ceiling at reaching that All Star level, but he possesses the fundamentals that allow him to flourish in the league as one of the best defenders and distributors despite a distinct lack of explosiveness and athleticism when compared to many of today's guards.

In a league where games are won by the narrowest of margins, scouts and GM’s are looking for that X Factor to connect the dots, rather than move all the dots out of the way and run an iso play; and because of this, the international market as a whole has come into increasing focus to try and find that next Unicorn.

Can it be maintained?

The influence of the NBA overseas in recent years is clear for all to see; with global games being played across Asia, Africa, America and Europe, not to mention the rise of athletes as global brand ambassadors for multi-national companies. This will certainly contribute to the spotlight remaining on international prospects; however the current state of European players in the NBA heavily depends on their future. In essence, they are their own worst enemies. If guys like Dragan Bender, Frank Ntilikina and Lauri Markannen can carve out successful careers (I’m not suggesting they'll be the next Dirk but rather a serviceable player) then it maintains that focus and enthusiasm towards European players. However, the fact that many teams in the league now look to follow a similar position-less blueprint to build a championship contender, means that the tap of European talent heading into the NBA is unlikely to be turned off if international prospects turned into busts.

The league interest is there, but what about player interest? Now, most players would not hesitate for a second if they drew interest from an NBA team and jump at the chance to play in the biggest basketball market on the planet; but the rise of the super team could push the brakes on each teams hunt for a Unicorn. The super- team, like it or not, is dictating both the league and free agency, meaning big money to many but a genuine chance at winning it all to few. Michael Jordan summed it up perfectly when he was quoted as saying 28 teams ‘are going to be garbage’. Now if I'm a European player who plays to compete and not for a 8 or 9 figure salary, would I feel comfortable leaving a team that invested in me from the first stages of my career to jump ship to an NBA that has no realistic shot at winning? Maybe. We have seen it happen in most cases. However, with the number of true contenders amounting to maybe 3 teams, younger European players could opt to stay away from the pressures and politics of the league, instead choosing a better known path to them in the EuroLeague.

Realistically this situation would rarely arise and its likely to continue the way it is with an influx of highly talented international players; but you have to think, could it be that a future NBA superstar opts to stay with their team in Europe instead of cashing in on a bigger paycheque? We won't know until it happens, but what I do know is if Luka Doncic doesn't declare for the 2018 draft, there will be riots in every NBA city across America.

Kobe is right, more needs to be done in order to teach up and coming players the fundamentals that are so apparent in the leagues around European; hence why the 7 foot Unicorn can handle and shoot like a guard and post up like a forward. The NBA landscape is unlikely to change anytime soon, as the emphasis on metrics and statistics allows teams to more easily identify how they be more successful and win more games. Basketball, and the professional athletes who play it, are now a science; and if it so happens that the way a European player plays the game is more aligned to maximize his teams output than homegrown talent, then the wheels will keep on churning for international players entering the league. Unless scouts and GM’s around the NBA suddenly decide 3 point shooting and ball movement are no longer staples of a modern championship team, then the surge in European players entering the league will remain for the better; whether they are a rare and shiny Unicorn or not.