The NBA’s transformation over the last two decades has been impossible to ignore. What was once a league dominated by American-born superstars has gradually evolved into a more global game. Nowhere is this more evident than in the rise of European players.

Some of the most dominant superstars in today’s league, including Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic , and Giannis Antetokounmpo , are all from Europe. Between them, they have accounted for five of the last six league MVP awards, while Doncic entered this season as the reigning scoring champion.

A different game

A new wave of talent continues to emerge, with towering Frenchman Victor Wembanyama being widely regarded as the next face of the league. The impact of international stars isn’t just about their skills — it’s about how they’ve reshaped the way basketball in the NBA is played.

While many enthusiasts have called this influx the reason for the decline in the way traditional basketball is played, NBA legend Michael Jordan doesn’t share this sentiment — he sides with the positives.

“The game itself is a fun game to watch,” Jordan said . “A lot more threes. I think the European players have expanded the style of basketball because of the versatility that they have brought to the game which I think is good for the league, which has increased in scoring. So I think it’s just going to keep getting better, and it forces us as Americans how to play a much more rounded basketball game. That’s what the European players have taught us as individuals in the States.”

Many analysts point to differences in training philosophies as a key reason why European players have thrived in the NBA. The European system prioritizes fundamentals, basketball IQ, and team play over raw talent and athleticism.

In contrast, American development often emphasizes individual talent, highlight plays, and early success in youth tournaments. The current generation of European stars didn’t appear overnight—Doncic, for instance, was EuroLeague MVP before being drafted into the NBA.

Even Wembanyama was already playing in the top division of the French league at 17. At this age, most American talents are only in their freshman year in college. In America, players typically follow a path through Amateur Athletic Union basketball, high school, and college before reaching the NBA.

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Dominating through the years

Interestingly, European players didn’t just start to dominate the league; Arvydas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dirk Nowitzki , and Pau Gasol were some of the first to make significant impacts in the NBA.

Sabonis, known for his exceptional passing as a big man, arrived in the league later in his career but showcased how European centers could thrive with skill and finesse rather than just brute strength — a trait still evident in Jokic today.

Petrovic, before his tragic passing, had begun to redefine what European guards could do with his shooting and fearless mentality — somewhat of a Doncic’s profile.

Kukoc played a key role in Jordan’s second three-peat with the Chicago Bulls , proving that international players could contribute to championship-winning teams.

Then came Nowitzki and Gasol, who excelled individually and lifted NBA teams to championship success. Nowitzki, with his signature one-legged fadeaway, became the first European player to win both the regular-season and NBA Finals MVP.

Gasol, a two-time NBA champion, played a critical role alongside Kobe Bryant in the Los Angeles Lakers’ back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Their success inspired a generation of European talent and helped remove any doubts about their ability to compete with the best athletes in the world.

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