I didn't realize this was a thing in some circles - apparently some former(?) US players blame Euros for ruining defense in the NBA. Gilbert Arenas, a bastion of critical thinking I'm certain, had this to say on the lack of D in the NBA:
āI know what they can do. Get rid of all Europeans."
āYou go to college to learn defense. What college do Europeans go to? They have no athleticism. They have no speed, no jumping ability. They are a liability on defense,ā he said. āThey are 150 Euros in the league todayā¦ name the top defenders. None! Just Rudy [Gobert] and the Greek Freak. Other than that, they are offensive players.
āThe NBA took away aggression,ā Arenas continued. āThey took away aggression to open up the EuroLeague. When they first started getting here, it was too rough for them. They didnāt make it. Eventually, they softened the rules. They didnāt soften the rules for the Americans. They softened the rules to open up international.
āSo when they say the euros are going to run the league in the next five years, why do you think that? More threes, passing, cutting ā this is not our league, this is not the American style, this is the Euro style. Drive in, suck the defense in, pass the ball to the three-point line.ā
Of all people trying to make this point, GILBERT ARENAS? Chucking shots and no D seems right up his Euro alley.