Tiago Splitter knows European basketball (where he played 10 seasons) and NBA basketball (he won a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014) well. That is why it is worth taking into account the opinion of the Brazilian, who last season successfully coached Paris Basketball, on the difference in the game on both sides of the Atlantic.
The 40-year-old former player and coach, who will not continue to coach the French team next season, is well aware of the differences between European and American basketball. He emphasizes how tough the game is in the Old Continent, something that usually goes unnoticed in the Mecca of basketball, but which he has experienced as a player and as a coach.
Asked about the main differences between the two styles of play, Splitter is clear: “The strategy, the toughness, how difficult it is, the strong contacts that occur on the court… People have no idea that European basketball is much more physical.”
More permissiveness in FIBA basketball
And he emphasizes that game of contacts and how much is allowed in Europe as opposed to the NBA, although many people have thought that historically it is precisely the opposite. And he argues: “Think about the NBA: if you touch someone, it’s a foul. Here, to get a foul, you have to beg the referee to call it, you know?”
People have no idea that European basketball is much more physical than the NBA, there is a lot of toughness and they do not know how difficult it is or the strong contacts that occur on the court
Splitter’s words revive the worldwide debate about toughness in basketball and the difference in styles after a foreign player was proclaimed MVP of the season for the seventh consecutive campaign, with Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flanked by Serbian Nikola Jokic and Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo.
NBA stars agree
A debate in which several NBA stars entered, such as Tiago Splitter, who consider that European basketball is more physical. “It’s much more difficult,” said Antetokounmpo during a Milwaukee Bucks Media Day. This statement surprised the American media, who asked Jokic about it. “Yes, it is more difficult, because in Europe you have to think faster,” explained the Serbian.
“Here in Europe they don’t call fouls easily, you have to get used to getting hit hard
Lauri Markkanen, a Jazz player and star of the Finnish national team, agrees with Splitter in pointing out the difference in refereeing between FIBA basketball and the NBA: “Here you don’t get fouls easily, you have to get used to getting a good whack,” explained the Finnish power forward when asked about it.
Doncic highlights team defense in Europe
“When I came to the NBA, I never expected to be such a good scorer. I never have been, and that surprised me,” said Luka Doncic, who explained this circumstance by stressing that the different rules, the size of the court and the spaces granted by the defenses. “Basketball in the Euroleague is more team-oriented. It has more tactics and you have less time for everything. Although I think there are better defenders in the NBA, the team defense in Europe is more impressive,” said the Lakers star.
Although I think there are better defenders in the NBA, the team defense in Europe is more impressive
Antetokounmpo, who has experienced it firsthand in international tournaments in which he plays with Greece, explained it perfectly: “I don’t want to disrespect the players in the NBA, where the talent is much higher. But the spaces are different, here you have many lines to drive the ball and generate play. There it is more intense, they defend you with full court pressure, they make two against one all the time. There is no space to penetrate, and the game is more physical. I don’t know if they compensate for the lack of talent with physical play, but they make it difficult for you.”
There the spaces are different, you have many lines to drive the ball and generate play. There it is more intense, they defend you with full court pressure and the game is more physical. I don’t know if they make up for the lack of talent with physical play, but they make it difficult for you
Even two American stars once agreed with that opinion. “European basketball is more physical than the NBA,” said the late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. This was also echoed by Damian Lillard, one of the pillars of the Milwaukee Bucks: “When you play with FIBA rules, scoring is more difficult.”
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