Luka Doncic on why it's easier to score in the NBA than in Europe
Over the last several years, the NBA has become a fast-paced, high-scoring league. As opposed to the 1990s and 2000s, when many, if not most, teams averaged under 100 points a game, the average team these days clocks in at over 110 points a game.
Teams look to run and get early offense a lot more than they did some 20 years ago, and although the league has gradually allowed a little more physicality over the last couple of years, the game is still less physical than it was in the 1990s.
Advertisement
There is a difference between today's NBA and the type of pro basketball played in Europe, where the game is more physical and has slightly different rules. Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic started playing professionally overseas at a young age, and early in his NBA career, he said it is easier to score in the NBA than it is in Europe.
During a recent episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast, he elaborated on that comment.
'But I think in Europe, watching the Euro League now and before, it's more about the team and teamwork,' Doncic said. 'But it's different rules in the NBA, I've always said that. The reason I said it's easier to score in the NBA is because it's just different rules. You have a lot more spacing, you have more minutes. It's eight more minutes, anything can happen in eight minutes. So it's just because of that. In Europe if you get a big guy, for example like Edy Tavares, he plays in Madrid. He's just standing in the paint and he can stand in the paint and he's [7'3″], it's hard to score on that. It's impossible. Here, you can't do that because it's a three-second violation.'
In Europe, defensive players are allowed to stand in the paint as long as they wish, unlike in the NBA, where rules state they can be in the paint for a maximum of three seconds. That makes it a lot easier for players to protect the rim defensively.
Some have called for the NBA to get rid of its defensive three-second rule. However, eliminating such a rule would not only make it much easier to defend, possibly to the point of greatly lowering scores across the league, but it would go against decades of not allowing players to camp out in the lane.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic on why it's easier to score in the NBA than in Europe
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
GDT: Zack 'Two Solo Homers' Littell
Yahoo Soccer is powered by OneFootball, the ultimate destination for news, live matches, scores, highlights, and more.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PWHL Seattle lands U.S. hockey legend Hilary Knight as first signing
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 05: Hilary Knight #21 of the Boston Fleet skates against Montreal Victoire during a PWHL Takeover Tour game at Climate Pledge Arena on January 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Brief U.S. standout Hilary Knight reached a one-year deal with PWHL Seattle after being left unprotected by the Boston Fleet. Knight was the co-leader in points in the PWHL last season with 29 points on 15 goals and 14 assists. Knight has appeared in four Olympics and 15 IIHF Women's World Championships for the United States, winning one Olympic gold medal and three silvers, and 10 gold medals and five silvers at the World Championships. The first player to sign a contract to play for PWHL Seattle just happens to be one of the most accomplished players in U.S. hockey history. PWHL Seattle reached an agreement with forward Hilary Knight on a one-year deal on Wednesday night, who has left unprotected by the Boston Fleet in the league's expansion process. Advertisement "Signing Hilary Knight was an absolute no-brainer - she's the heartbeat of any team she joins," said PWHL Seattle General Manager Meghan Turner said in a statement. "Her proven leadership and drive, the way she elevates everyone around her, those are qualities you can't teach. Hilary's not just a game-changer on the ice, she's the kind of person who defines a culture, and we're incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle." Knight has appeared in four Olympics and 15 IIHF Women's World Championships for the United States, winning one Olympic gold medal and three silvers, and 10 gold medals and five silvers at the World Championships. Turner was the assistant general manager of the Fleet the last two seasons before being named the general manager of PWHL Seattle last month. With Knight being left unprotected in favor of forward Alina Müller, defender Megan Keller, and goaltender Aerin Frankel. Seattle and Vancouver are permitted to sign up to five players this week not under contract for next season prior to the expansion draft on June 9. The two teams can then select as many players as needed from the non-protected list from the six teams in the league to reach a 12-player maximum. Advertisement The signing of Knight is a major benchmark for the new franchise in Seattle. Knight, 35, was the co-winner of the 2024-25 PWHL Points Leader Award with the Fleet last season, scoring 29 points on 15 goals and 14 assists in 30 games, which tied her with Sarah Fillier of the New York Sirens. She's also a finalist for the PWHL Forward of the Year and Billie Jean King MVP awards. "I'm incredibly proud to be part of bringing professional women's hockey to the Pacific Northwest," Knight said. "Seattle holds a special place in my heart, and I'm beyond excited to join PWHL Seattle in such a storied sports city. I'm grateful to Meghan Turner for believing in me and bringing me on board as part of this new chapter. To my teammates, the staff, and the fans of Boston –– thank you. The Fleet wasn't just a team, it was home. These past two seasons were some of the most meaningful of my career, and I'll carry those memories with me forever." Knight has played in Seattle multiple times already as a member of the Fleet and U.S. Women's Team. Advertisement The Fleet played the Montréal Victoire at Climate Pledge Arena in January as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour, with Boston winning 3-2 in a shootout. Knight also played for the U.S. against Canada in the 2022-23 Rivalry Series at Climate Pledge Arena, scoring two goals with an assist in a 4-2 win. Knight is the IIHF Women's World Championships all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, and she holds the record for most Olympic Games played by a U.S. women's hockey player. The Source Information in this story came from The Associated Press. MORE HOCKEY NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE Seattle Kraken re-sign defenseman Josh Mahura to two-year extension Advertisement Seattle Kraken name Lane Lambert as new head coach Seattle Kraken re-sign forward John Hayden to two-year deal PWHL names Meghan Turner general manager of PWHL Seattle PWHL sets expansion draft for June 9, rules for Seattle, Vancouver To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: Bayern Munich's Max Eberl recently held meeting with agents for Athletic Club star Nico Williams
The mini transfer window for club's playing in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup is now officially closed, but the transfer rumor mill for Bayern Munich has been heating up. Florian Wirtz has all but completed his move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool and Leroy Sané has agreed to join Galatasaray and will not be joining Bayern in the United States for the Club World Cup. The door is wide open for Bayern to sign a replacement winger and there is added impetus to strike a deal as soon as possible now that Sané is out the door and Wirtz's move to Merseyside is sealed. Athletic Club's Nico Williams has emerged as the club's top transfer target in recent weeks, as the Spanish winger has a release clause of 60 million euros that Athletic Club is now desperately trying to increase in attempts to get him to agree to a contract extension. The advances from Bayern might be too much to turn down, though, for both the player and the club. Advertisement Per new information from Sport Bild's Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl (via @iMiaSanMia), Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl held a meeting in Munich with Nico Williams' agents to discuss a potential summer transfer. To add to that, the Spanish winger is now Eberl's top transfer priority of the summer, as it has emerged this week that Milan's Rafa Leão is more than likely off the table for Bayern. Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, Brighton & Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma, Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons, and Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola have all also been linked with Bayern, but Williams remain the hottest target at this juncture. Williams himself has also signalled that he could very well envision a move to Bayern and that he has essentially narrowed his choices down to three options. The winger either wants to stay with Athletic, go to Bayern, or go to Arsenal. All three options are potentially in the cards for the Spain international that Eberl and Christoph Freund are eager to try to sign for the German Rekordmeister. Athletic Club will likely try to hold more discussions with the player now that the international break is over, but Eberl and Freund will certainly be working equally as hard to try to get a deal to materialize. More from
