Heal The World: One Jasikevicius At A Time

It’s time for European / international players coming over to the NBA to be extremely picky when making their team choice. I’m tired of seeing talented people fail. If players are gonna come over for a couple years and then head back to Europe, they just shouldn’t make the move at all. They’re wasting valuable years of their basketball lives.

Now, there is definitely a misunderstanding between NBA organizations and the players themselves. Experienced Euros seem to believe they will immediately be given some sort of burn and a decent shot to show their stuff while many NBA coaches seem to treat most of them as rookies.

Sarunas Jasikevicius is a good example of this in Golden State. Jasikevicius arrived as a highly successful player overseas when he signed with the Pacers. He was given a chance but the Pacers style didn’t really suit his shoot-happy game. He never complained in Indiana, but despised his time in Golden State where he barely saw the floor. Sarunas didn’t make the right choice coming over; there are very few teams that know how to use the talents of a seasoned Euro right off the bat. Jasikevicius definitely could have worked in the Warriors’ “all offense” kind of system. The Warriors sign Troy Hudson (?!?) when they had this winner in their grasps?

Coaches and front offices alike should take in to account the professional experience of these players and treat them as if they are a solid NBA pro. If Richard Jefferson signed with the Clippers, he would expect minutes. NBA teams have to understand that’s the way the internationals think.

It’s different when young Euros arrive in NA or enter through the draft. Dirk and Tony Parker came over here as kids and developed here. They didn’t get the keys handed to them, nor did they expect to be given anything. A 28, 29, or 30-year-old NBA rookie arrives for a new challenge and to play with the most talented players in the world. They aren’t here to take a step back from their roles in Europa.

Carlos Delfino was constantly unhappy in Detroit as he gained more experience and his role didn’t change. The trade to a situation in Toronto that suits his style should make for some international love. We’ve all watched the super-talented Andrei Kirilenko and his fallout with the Jazz. Vassilis Spanoulis entered in to a very structured situation in Houston as a 24-year-old and expected too much. If he arrived a year later under Rick Adelman as opposed to Jeff Van Gundy, who knows what happens? Juan Carlos Navarro will likely work in Memphis not only because he’s playing with good buddy Pau, but because he has a coach in Marc Iavaroni and a system that will use him effectively. Jorge Garbajosa and Fabricio Oberto are examples of international veterans that have made the successful transition over the last few years (with notorious FIBA-loving teams, Toronto and San Antonio).

More research by both the teams and players, and a little more understanding by the squads would make everyone a hell of a lot more happy. Just like we can hopefully make you a little more happy when we get in to the studio to record a podcast this Thursday. Skeets has been busy cleaning his carpet — sorry for the delay.

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By Tas Melas at 2:30 pm on 09.24.2007 — Tags: Sarunas Jasikevicius, International, Warriors

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