The discourse around the All-Star game has run rampant. The NBA, at one point, considered changing the All-Star Game format to go World vs USA. While the national team continues to tag Olympic wins, the league, on the other hand, is seemingly being overtaken by Europe. This, however, could have been avoided. Just ask Kobe Bryant. 3 years before the MVP winners became predominantly European, the Mamba had some thoughts on the American basketball system.

While a large majority of NBA players are indeed American, it is worth noting that basketball is only as big in America. Did Kobe Bryant have a point when he criticized the American system of the sport?

Is the game becoming more global, or is Kobe Bryant correct?

When it comes to the game of basketball, many would consider Kobe’s opinion to be conclusive. In an interview with ESPN, Kobe blasted the basketball culture in America. Criticizing the way the game is taught at a collegiate level, Bean said, “Horrible, terrible AAU basketball. It’s stupid. It doesn’t teach our kids how to play the game at all…They don’t know the fundamentals of the game. It’s stupid.” 

Bryant said that he would have also not turned out as great if not for his family’s move to Italy. “I probably wouldn’t be able to dribble with my left and shoot with my left and have good footwork…In Italy, the Red Auerbachs…all those great coaches were doing clinics and camps in Europe…the club coaches were following their advice and their fundamentals like the bible, and they were teaching all of us kids that type of stuff. We’re a product of that. It’s a big difference.” 

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In the current NBA landscape, it is evident that there was some substance to Kobe’s take. His predictions for European players taking over and being more skillful were also proven correct. “They’re more skillful. It’s something we really have to fix. We really have to address that. We have to teach our kids to play the right way.” But how dominant are the Europeans really?

Europe’s stranglehold over the NBA

When you consider the past 5 MVPs, all were born outside the USA. And by any metric, 4 of the 5 best players in the NBA are Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Luka Doncic. The constant thread between them?

That’s right! We haven’t seen a truly transformational star come out of the USA since Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry. Notably, that was over 15 years ago. While Zion Williamson and Ja Morant have made a splash, they haven’t cracked the upper tiers yet, and with the myriad of controversies, the possibility seems more unlikely by the minute.

Even looking to the future, the generational talent coming in this year is a French kid, Victor Wembanyama. While the USA is the kingdom for basketball, it is far removed from boasting kings.

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