Source: https://siol.net/sportal/kosarka/marko-milic-spregovoril-prvic-po-koncu-zgodbe-z-dallas-mavericks-video-669042

Former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Marko Milic, who left after Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers, said Americans have a hard time accepting that Luka and Jokic are the best players in the world because they don’t fit their athletic standards.

Milic also pointed out that Americans have their own set of standards when judging Luka and other European players—and often struggle to accept their dominance.

"For me, it's important that Luka feels good, regardless of appearances. I'm not like the Americans who follow their own criteria. No matter what was said about him, Luka was the league's top scorer and had truly outstanding seasons."

"To put it simply, they have a hard time accepting that Luka and Jokic are the best players in the world because they don't fit their athletic standards," he stated.

"But mentally, technically, tactically, and with a smile on their faces, they dominate the league, and so there's always something being scrutinized."

30 comments

  4. Never met anyone who had a hard time saying Jokic and Luka are good. Weird take

  5. In basketball, if you’re skilled enough (like supremely) it does trump athleticism. However, guys like Luka and Jokic can only improve upon their game with better conditioning. It’s not an “either or” thing.

  8. Whether you believe they are the two best players or not, everything said about Luka pre-draft does exemplify his overall point. American media couldn’t fathom the ideas he’d actually be this good despite winning Euroleague championship and MVP at 18 years old.

    I think by this point people are a little more aware of what Luka and Jokic bring though. But that’s very specific to those two players.

  10. There’s actually another very obvious reason it makes people upset that they’re the best

  11. Everyone who’s replying “nuh uh, no one says that,” consider that he might be exposed to different conversations than you are

  12. Dumb straw man shit. 

    Also there has always been a strain of racism in these kinds of comments from Europeans. Notice he doesn’t mention Giannis (or Webanyama).

    But also I remember after the 2011 finals a German paper published a piece about Dirk’s intelligence and reading of the game beating the pure athleticism of LeBron and Wade…it’s like, Dirk was huge and an amazing shot maker; intelligence was not the dividing line. If you wanted to pick the most “basketball smart” star in that series it’s LeBron, not Dirk. 

  13. *””To put it simply, they have a hard time accepting that Luka and Jokic are the best players in the world because they don’t fit their athletic standards,” he stated.”*

    This is just me, but I think he’s talking about the NBA players themselves, not the fans.

  14. Everyone saying “no they don’t” – this is clearly about Nico Harrison and the Mavs

  15. Ehh Luka is athletic just not quick twitch Gerald Green level. His game is built to play 20 plus years pro instead of dunk over 2 people(which he can). His change of pace is filthy and he’s much quicker than given credit. It’s the basketball IQ that helps Jokic and Luka abuse the league.

  16. >Former Mavericks assistant coach Marko Milič says ~~Americans have~~ **[Nico Harrison has]** a hard time accepting the dominance of non-athletic European players

    Fixed the title

  21. He should know… He dunked over a car before any NBA guys and when they did it in NBA, it was something unique.

  23. I feel like jokic is widely accepted as the best player in the nba and Luka when healthy there’s no one I’d take over him in a 7 game series

  26. I’m not sure why the media works so hard to sow a narrative that Doncic and Jokic are underrated or recipients of ire from the public or the media. That’s 100% false. I have never, NEVER seen a player glazed more egregiously than Jokic. Luka was hurt most of last year and had a poor showing on his averages and many media pundits still voted him above Giannis who put up 30/12/7 on 60% for the 2nd year running.

    The only narratives that exist about these two players is how their offense-only style is somehow better than elite offense AND defense in other players.

  27. i mean defense matters. But yea i think in the US athletically gifted stars are usually the ones able to do offense and defense, that and exciting plays grows popularity of the player faster.

  28. The trouble is throwing Luka and Joker in the same class. Luka is not on his level.

  29. Just want to point out that Luka and Jokic have one title between them, while Steph, Lebron, Kawhi, Tatum and SGA have 12. Also, the US, with all of these AAU players, have won 10 of the last 12 Olympic Gold medals in basketball.

    This whole “Euro players dominate the league” narrative is the most overrated narrative in all of professional sports. The data simply does not support it.

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