“We Are Losing the Battle”: Penny Hardaway Explains Why European Players Dominate NBA Today

The NBA is witnessing a growing dominance of European players, and Penny Hardaway is not surprised by this trend. He explained that European players’ advanced training methods have contributed to their success, unlike the fragmented approach in the U.S.

Hardaway pointed out on the "Hoops Genius Podcast" that European players spend many hours in the gym improving skills. He noted, "We are losing the battle from that point of view because we are not skilled enough, and there’s not enough playing basketball five-on-five."

European Development System Outpaces U.S. Training

In Europe, basketball clubs train twice daily, mixing individual skills, weight training, and competitive games with real stakes. This system contrasts with the American Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which Hardaway criticized for lacking consistent practice and team-oriented fundamentals.

Hardaway stated, "The AAU brings us together for a whole week, but they don’t practice, so how does a kid get better outside of having an individual trainer?" He emphasized that European players often have continuous access to trainers, promoting steady improvement.

International Players Receiving Top Honors

The rise of international talent in the NBA is evident in awards and statistics. For example, players like Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama have dominated Defensive Player of the Year titles. Meanwhile, young stars such as Josh Giddey and Alperen Sengun rank highly in MVP discussions.

Hardaway’s observations echo comments from Steve Nash, who praised the European "club system" for focusing on fundamentals more than the U.S. system. Nash said European countries "develop talent" effectively through a different setup.

Impact on Future NBA Landscape

With iconic U.S. players approaching retirement, the league’s MVP race is increasingly filled with international stars from multiple continents. Leading candidates include Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic.

This shift suggests it may be a long time before a U.S.-born player wins the MVP again. Hardaway’s insights highlight systemic gaps that the U.S. basketball infrastructure needs to address to remain competitive.

Overall, the European model’s emphasis on skill development and teamwork continues to influence the NBA’s evolution. As the league sees more international talent thrive, the battle for basketball supremacy appears to be tilting overseas.