Shaquille O'Neal Praises European Big Men's Fundamentals
Visiting Lithuania, the NBA legend said European players are better schooled in fundamentals, citing Jokic and Embiid as evidence of the shift among centres.
Shaquille O'Neal, visiting Lithuania, used a press conference to compare how American and European big men are schooled in the game.
"I've always said that European players are far better prepared in terms of the fundamentals than Americans. Americans have a bit more talent: we jump higher, we run faster, but you really play with your head first. We like to rely on physical strength and natural ability. I think that's why the modern game increasingly resembles European basketball," O'Neal said.
He tied the shift to the shrinking pool of American centres in the NBA.
"You've always known how to stretch the floor, to shoot, to defend. You've always had that toughness. That's why we don't have many American centres anymore. Almost all the really good centres now come from other countries. There's Jokic. There's Embiid. I can't think of other names right now, but the game has definitely changed from when I played," O'Neal said.
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