Nope! Nada! Nuh-uh! Not happening! There’s no way all the talking heads can claim that European players are taking over the NBA, right? It is the popular chatter among the basketball community now, after all. They only became fierce with the consecutive NBA drafts featuring French players being taken in as No. 1 picks. 2023 saw the “generational talent” Victor Wembanyama go to Spurs. This year, it moved to the next level with the top two picks going to Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr, both fine Frenchmen. Yet, Draymond Green would sooner bite his tongue than agree there was even a possibility of such a thing.

Then again, DrayMagic usually does present perspectives that are in contrast with the popular opinion. And they do make sense in a roundabout way. Anyway, it wouldn’t harm to listen to what he has to say on the matter. The latest episode of The Draymond Green Show was dedicated to the trade, Bronny James, and the NBA draft.

But he couldn’t start without addressing the European players taking over the American basketball league chatter. “I’m not sure we’ve still reached a day of where a European guy is the face of the NBA because the NBA is an American League. I’m just not sure we’ve hopped that hurdle yet.” Green said.

Dray further pointed out that one cannot simply look at Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Victor Wembanyama and decide that, yes, it is true, the Europeans have indeed taken over the league. As per the Warriors’ veteran, looking at the “whole body of work of the US-born players in the NBA right now,” and that includes the superstars and non-superstars from America and outside, it isn’t even close. Apparently, it is not even a discussion.

He also seemed annoyed that they would claim something like this and, in the same breath, say it was the worst draft in recent history. But do Draymond’s reasons deserve merit? Let’s do a little fact-checking.

Was Draymond Green telling the truth?

The mission statement of the NBA reads, ‘To inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.’ 32 years ago, when the league really put in the effort and invested in scouting top talents from outside American soil, there were only 23 international players. Now, that number stands at a record 125 (as of the 2023-24 NBA roster). They represent 40 countries and territories hailing from 6 continents. Amidst these, the largest are Canadians at 26 and France comes second with 14 total players. If we were to break it down further, Dallas and Oklahoma have the highest international players at eight each.

But that’s just scratching the surface, wouldn’t you say? After Draymond Green won the DPOY award in the 2016-17 season, Rudy Gobert won back-to-back awards with the ‘Greek Freak’ clinching it in between (2019-20), before the award found its way back to the ‘Stifle Tower’ again the very next season. The next two seasons saw a break from the cycle, with the French big man taking it back this year. How about the MVP award?

James Harden won it in 2018. And that was it. It was like a BOGO deal in the following years (they worked for it, of course, but you get the idea). Giannis succeeded Harden as the MVP for two straight years. The ‘Joker’ then took it from there in 2021 and ’22. 2023 was Joel Embiid‘s year (a long time coming, yes?). If you thought Jokic was done, think again. The Larry O’Brien might have slipped this year, but Jokic ensured he got back the MVP. That’s six years since an American-born NBA player was named an MVP!

There are more records, but you see where we are going with this. However, Green was right in that taking the entire NBA into account would still show that US-born players still make the majority. “You got almost 25 percent of the league born outside the United States,” ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla told the New York Post last week. 75% is still American. So, yeah, Green got that part right. However, the former St. Johns coach made a riveting comment. More of an insight, perhaps.

“The globe has shrunk because we taught the game to the world, and the world in a crazy way is teaching it back to us.” 

 Before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.

Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!