Oscar Schmidt: NBA's international players 'much better' than Americans
Brazilian basketball great Oscar Schmidt admits he doesn't enjoy watching American players as much as their international counterparts in the NBA these days.
Schmidt, the all-time leading scorer in basketball history, explained on a recent episode of the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast that he thinks international players like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are having a bigger impact on the court than Americans.
"I look for Luka Doncic, I look for Jokic," the Hall of Famer said. "I look for all the foreign players much more than American players, because they are better than the American players. They're much better."
Schmidt seemed particularly impressed by Jokic, saying he expects the Serbian to take home his third NBA MVP award this season.
Oscar Schmidt, the leading scorer in world basketball history, on today’s NBA:
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) March 14, 2024
“I look for all the foreign players ... because they are better than American players. They are MUCH better.”
😳
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The NBA tipped off the 2023-24 season with 125 international players from 40 different countries and territories on opening-night rosters - a record number for the league. Canada was the most represented country outside the U.S. on opening night with 26 players, followed by France (14), Australia (nine), Serbia (seven), and Germany (six).