Explaining The Main Difference Between Basketball In Europe And The USA
There have always been many differences between European and American basketball: from the size of the court to the culture of cheering, from the rules on fouls to the financial component. Many of these differences are written down on paper and, accordingly, can be eliminated by simply revising the rules.
But there is one very important nuance that makes the difference between the Euroleague and the NBA fundamental — and that is the attitude towards coaches. There is a popular belief that specialists are much more respected and valued in Europe than in the United States. And this is indeed the case! But what is the reason for this? Championship will explain in this article.
Authority and money
One of the big differences between Europe and the NBA is the position of the coach in the team hierarchy. Let’s take the Lakers as an example. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are superstars who earn $88 million a year between them, and they work with Darvin Ham, who is only in his second year as head coach in the NBA and earns $3-5 million. Who do you think has more authority behind closed doors? The question is rhetorical. Let’s take another hypothetical example.
Let’s say that Davis, who is under contract until 2027, has a falling out with Ham. Or better yet, he doesn’t fit into the system that the coach wants to see next season. What would be the most likely outcome: Ham’s dismissal or Davis’ trade? Another question with an obvious answer.
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Since 2011 (after Phil Jackson), none of the Los Angeles coaches have stayed in their seats for more than three years. And the reason has always been more than just unsatisfactory results. Byron Scott didn’t get along with the young players, Luke Walton didn’t get along with management. Frank Vogel was fired because he couldn’t integrate Russell Westbrook into the team (and the player himself was traded just six months later).
Now it’s Ham’s turn. One of the coach’s main problems is that he is losing — if he hasn’t already lost — control of the locker room. Of course, gaining the respect of stars who play basketball for tens of millions of dollars and often have ego problems is no easy task. Especially when it would be much easier for management to get rid of a coach than a popular player.
Making an equal trade involving a superstar is a difficult process in itself, not to mention all the additional measures that teams have to take to complete their roster
. But a dismissed specialist can simply be paid compensation — if he is entitled to it at all. So it turns out that in the NBA, teams are built around players — often stars or rising talents. Franchises don’t want to lose them. After all, there is only one LeBron in the league, but there are many coaches. At the same time, among specialists, perhaps only Gregg Popovich has a similar reputation.
In the Euroleague, the situation is slightly different. Zeljko Obradovic of Partizan is much better known on the European and even world stage than any player who now plays under his leadership (even Frank Kaminsky or Kevin Panter). Incidentally, he and Popovich are on good terms and even spy on each other’s tactics. But Obradovic is not the only big name in the Euroleague. Ettore Messina, Dimitris Itoudis, Sergio Scariolo, Pablo Laso, Ergin Ataman — the tournament is full of big names. At the same time, specialists often sign longer contracts: three to four years, compared to one or two for most players.
This is because specialists are judged and selected for the position solely on the basis of their results. For this reason, they react so emotionally to what is happening on the court. Obradovic, for example, is reserved and friendly in everyday life, but in the heat of the game, he shouts so loudly that he even blushes and turns into a machine for producing viral videos. In general, coaches are trusted more in Europe, which is why they are given more time to achieve results. In the NBA, as practice shows, a coach can be fired six months after being appointed. Adrian Griffin of Milwaukee is a prime example of this.