Dirk Nowitzki had an interesting thing to say about the state of the NBA game last week after the German set the record for the most points scored by a player born outside the United States.
Europeans or other internationals have not gotten better at adapting to the NBA, he said. Rather, the NBA has started to more resemble the international game.
He said two rules changes were important: allowing a variety of zone defence and banning the “hand-check” tactic.
“I think it made it easier for international players to adapt, and now it’s more like a European game, honestly,” he said.
“There’s a lot of pick and rolls, a lot of movement, everybody has to shoot from the outside. I think that helped me in my career and it helps other internationals.
“It’s a much more free-flowing game now.”
The importance of three-point shooting in the NBA now is undeniable, as is the necessity of a multi-skilled big man such as Nowitzki. Even players such as Houston's James Harden have been influenced by the global game – the American flashes one of the best defender-eluding "Euro steps" in basketball.
Far from the softness and flopping short-sighted observers thought Europeans would inflict on the game when more started coming into the league, about 20 years ago, the European influence has had a clearly positive creative and competitive impact on the NBA.
Few better than Nowitzki, and his well-earned record, to punctuate that point.
jraymond@thenational.ae
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