Ich nicht sprechen Deutsch.....although I understand a bit....2 years of it in high school...teacher was a hot lady...so I took her class.
The NBA is going to go the way of the English Premier League. When I was a lad, non-British EPL players were rare (and the Premier League was called "the first division"). Now they're the majority (along with the coaches).
Mid 2000's international all-stars: Dirk Nowitzki Steve Nash Yao Ming Manu Ginóbili Pau Gasol Tony Parker Mehmet Okur Peja Stojaković Andrei Kirilenko Zydrunas Ilgauskas Jamaal Magloire (Canada) Not too bad either huh? Ming Vs Embiid Dirk Vs Porzingis Kirilenko Vs Giannis Ginóbili Vs Doncic Nash Vs Dragic' (?)
Not bad. But sooner rather than later the best two players in the league will be Doncic and Antetokounmpo, i.e., non-US born or raised, and that's entirely new. I know Dirk won MVP one year, but it probably was just because they were tired of giving it to LeBron or Kobe every year. Same with Nash - he was the first beneficiary of D'Antoni PG stats bloat (most glaring example: Jeremy Lin).
What about Hakeem? one of the best Centers of all times (MJ said he takes him over any other Center).
I thought of him, and yes, he was the best player in the league for a while there, but (a) it was just him, and arguably it was just because Jordan had retired (b) he learned the game at a US college. Neither Giannis nor Doncic did. I love Hakeem, but have you seen the job Jordan has done picking talent for the Hornets? Hakeem needs to get in line behind Wilt and Kareem at least. Hakeem COULD have been better, but he kind of coasted for the early part of his career - only became THE DREAM fairly late on.
Giannis came in so young, you can argue he learned most of his game at the NBA. Bulls had a problem dealing with talented Centers right? i wouldnt be so quick to dismiss those Rockets teams.
Kirilenko was my favorite non blazer wing not named Gerald Wallace in the early 2000s man was a baller in every sense of the word.
