The controversial Gilbert Arenas responds to Nikola Jokic: "Our trash are the best in Europe"
The former NBA All-Star has come to the defense of American basketball following the recent statements made by the Serbian.
Gilbert Arenas, charismatic and controversial NBA player from 2001 to 2012, has responded to Nikola Jokic after the Denver Nuggets star defended that league players should experience European basketball to enhance their development.
Jokic focused on the difference in mentality between the NBA and Europe, particularly the importance of winning over individual statistics.
Jokic emphasizes the pressure to win
“In Europe, the most important thing is to win, and I wish all NBA players would go play in Europe just to see the pressure there,” Jokic explained.
The Nuggets player's theory is based on the fact that in Europe and with national teams, the main objective is to win the game. In contrast, he believes that in the NBA some players are more focused on scoring, racking up points, or improving their individual statistics.
“In Europe and in the national team, the most important thing is to win the game. I know it sounds silly. But in this league, you can see that some players need to score, get points, whatever it is, improve their statistics. But in the national team and in Europe, the most important thing is winning, and I wish all NBA players would go play in Europe just to see the pressure there,” Jokic pointed out.
Arenas recalls the Olympic gold of the United States
Gilbert Arenas responded to Jokic during a conversation with DeMarcus Cousins and used the Olympic gold won by the United States as an argument.
The former player recalled that the U.S. team prevailed over their rivals without worrying about individual statistics. “That’s how we beat you and France. We didn’t care about the statistics. We won the gold. If that’s what you mean... We kicked your ass,” Arenas stated.
His criticism also reaches the EuroLeague
Subsequently, Arenas directed his criticism towards the EuroLeague on his show. The former player argued that the United States does not need to compete in the European competition and questioned the level of players coming from the NBA.
“We don’t need to compete in the EuroLeague. Our leftovers, the guys who can’t stay on NBA rosters, go there and are the best players in Europe. The best players from all those countries are Americans,” he noted.
Before those words, Cousins also intervened to defend American basketball: “We’ve made this shit popular. We are the standard of basketball.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El polémico Gilbert Arenas responde a Nikola Jokic: "Nuestra basura son los mejores en Europa"
