Is the 2020s the decade of the international player?

[D.Brasco]

An American born player hasn't actually won MVP since 2018. And I can see Luka having the best odds winning next season.

[SelfishPlayer]

Championships matter...

[iLLmatic860]

Americans don't care about MVP but Jokic (neither does Jokic) but he's playing at such a high level and is currently the best player in the NBA rn for what its worth

[AdagioPace]

canadian, slovenian and french flags will fill up the rest of the decade

[D.Brasco]

Americans don't care about MVP but Jokic (neither does Jokic) but he's playing at such a high level and is currently the best player in the NBA rn for what its worth

Since when though? Until recently players would gun for the award as part of their legacy, MJ and LeBron have 9 combined. I don't believe they just stopped caring 5 years ago out of the blue, that's not it.

[FreeBird23]

Wait until Wemby win them all between 2026 and 2032

[NZB2323]

Championships matter...

If we include 2019 then players from Spain, the UK, Cameroon, Congo, Greece, Serbia, and Canada have won the championship.

[TheGeneral99]

Championships matter...

Giannis and Jokic have both been finals MVPs in 2 of the first 4 years this decade.

[dockingsched]

Eh, I think that’s too broad. More like the decade of Jokic followed by Wemby.

[thinktank]

The question is “why?”.

What’s the reason?

[D.Brasco]

Eh, I think that’s too broad. More like the decade of Jokic followed by Wemby.

And Giannis and Embiid and I can't see them holding off giving the MVP to Luka much longer. We have Shai on the horizon too.

[Statlanta]

Yes, Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama are soon to follow. Tatum, Booker and Edwards need to go up another level to stop this invasion of international basketball

[mg]

It's been a slow building tsunami for years now. It makes sense as the US only has a portion of the world population. We will still have the Ant Edwards or Cooper Flaggs coming up to take their place in the NBA but I don't ever see it going back to the way it was decades ago when the US born players completely dominated the game.

I also think the entire AAU culture has damaged the US product but that's a whole different thread idea.

[SFour]

Yes international players are dominating the MVP award....and you still have Doncic who is bound to win it, and then Wemby on the come up. And Jokic still isn't even done he's only 28 years old, his style of play will give him an extended prime.

America's main hope is Edwards which is why they're pushing so hard for him to be the face of the NBA, while ignoring the current 3x MVP.

[dockingsched]

Eh, I think that’s too broad. More like the decade of Jokic followed by Wemby.

And Giannis and Embiid and I can't see them holding off giving the MVP to Luka much longer. We have Shai on the horizon too.

Do you think people think of the 2010s as the decade of Rose cause he won an mvp or the 00s as the decade of Nash? I think you’re overrating the value of MVPs in comparison to multiple titles and finals mvps when determining who represents a decade.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

The question is “why?”.

What’s the reason?

International player development is better, focusing on fundamentals and the emphasis on skills. The AAU circuit is the death of American dominance because it minimizes the importance of bigs, almost all big kids are locked into playing a certain way as garbage men who never get to post up or expand their games.

[D.Brasco]

Eh, I think that’s too broad. More like the decade of Jokic followed by Wemby.

And Giannis and Embiid and I can't see them holding off giving the MVP to Luka much longer. We have Shai on the horizon too.

Do you think people think of the 2010s as the decade of Rose cause he won an mvp or the 00s as the decade of Nash? I think you’re overrating the value of MVPs in comparison to multiple titles and finals mvps when determining who represents a decade.

The topic is about the prominence of foreign born players winning the most prominent NBA individual award. Rose was 1 out of 9 American players to win the MVP that decade out of 10.

It's quite a difference that in just the following decade no American born player has won it once and it's hard to call when an American player will win it again this decade.

[dhsilv2]

Eh, I think that’s too broad. More like the decade of Jokic followed by Wemby.

And Giannis and Embiid and I can't see them holding off giving the MVP to Luka much longer. We have Shai on the horizon too.

Do you think people think of the 2010s as the decade of Rose cause he won an mvp or the 00s as the decade of Nash? I think you’re overrating the value of MVPs in comparison to multiple titles and finals mvps when determining who represents a decade.

Giannis and Jokic both have a title...

[thinktank]

The question is “why?”.

What’s the reason?

International player development is better, focusing on fundamentals and the emphasis on skills. The AAU circuit is the death of American dominance because it minimizes the importance of bigs, almost all big kids are locked into playing a certain way as garbage men who never get to post up or expand their games.

I agree with that as a major factor.

I think there are other factors that come into play too, like our healthcare and education system. The issue of the U.S. being passed by is not limited to basketball. I’ll leave it at that.

[EmpireFalls]

AAU sucks so bad.