The Eurostep is nice and all, but the sneaky side-to-side move that has become part of every slasher's arsenal hardly represents the extent of European influence on the NBA game.
Over the past three decades—and especially since the millennium—European basketball has been behind massive changes in the NBA's style, scouting and structure. With the 2013 FIBA Eurobasket tournament in full swing, now seems like the perfect time to examine (and appreciate) the ways in which European hoops have improved the stateside product.
Style and Substance
The stereotypical assessment of European basketball is at least partially true. Watch any game that involves FC Barcelona Regal in Spain or Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and you'll immediately note the way the ball zips around the perimeter, rarely stopping and always in search of the open man.
It's not totally accurate to call the European style "unselfish," largely because the pervasive goal among players is a somewhat selfish desire to win. The key distinction, though, is that European players come up in a basketball environment ...
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Article written by Grant Hughes
How Europe Changed the NBA Game Forever
September 6th, 2013 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
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