Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets puts up a basket ahead of Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings during the first half at Toyota Center on February 08, 2023 in Houston, Texas.
Years ago, Luka Doncic made the rounds for stating that it was actually easier to score in the NBA than it was in Europe.
Then, we saw Giannis Antetokounmpo struggling mightily with the Greek national team after dominating in the NBA.
Spacing is different, the referees officiate the game the way it’s supposed to be played, and there’s an actual commitment to team defense, so it’s not like Doncic’s take was that far-fetched.
Talking to Europhoops, the Houston Rockets big man stated that he used to feel the same way as Doncic, but being in the league showed him that it’s actually harder to score in the NBA (Via Legion Hoops).
Truth be told, that’s not what one could get from the eye test, but he should know better than the rest of us, being someone who has actually gotten to play overseas and in the U.S.
At the end of the day, one could argue that, while they both play basketball, FIBA and the NBA are entirely different sports, as they even have a different set of rules.
And while most people might argue that the NBA is most definitely superior and it might be from a talent or athleticism standpoint, it lacks the fundamentals of international basketball.