Things are different in Europe. What people consider an old building does not mean it went up in 1960. Roads are narrower, the cars smaller. Beer is stronger (which is nice) and the meal portions are generally smaller (which would be good for most Americans anyway).
And for all those American-born NBA guys thinking of heading overseas, the basketball is different, too. Very different.
Marcus Williams — the former UConn star who was a first round pick of the Nets and played four NBA seasons — has spent the last couple years playing in Europe. He likes it, he told Dime Magazine.
But he warned that the NBA players thinking of flooding the European market during the lockout will find this a very different game.I think the gameplay is a complete 180. Here, there’s more space it seems like and it’s more open, it’s more free world. Over there a lot of the game is half-court, a lot of the offense…like if you get a fast break somebody will foul you before you actually get the fast break started. They don’t really want the game to be up and down, and that makes it difficult for players who like to run.
It’s a lot more physical over there as far as fouls not being called. It’s just completely different from here. Completely different. And I think as foreigners, you don’t really get as many calls as the guys who are from there. They tend to take it a little rough on you.
Throw in the challenges with different foods, different languages and a very different lifestyle, and it’s not easy for everyone.
Which a few guys may learn the hard way.