10-30-2024, 10:20 AM
(10-30-2024, 09:52 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: The question for me has become this:
Is this a Dirk-like situation, wherein, despite lacking the MJ, Kobe "serial killer" level of commitment to competing right out of the gate, Luka will continuously mature and be more mindful of how to keep his body operating at a high level, OR, is Luka simply another example (regardless of how talented) of an Eastern European NBA player who limits their own potential due to a culturally different lens on what his job actually is? Vlade Divac and Hedo Turkoglu were both GREAT players. Not as great as Luka, but far above average, even by NBA standards. Both would've been even better had they made lifestyle sacrifices the way Americans do.
In a way, their approach is healthier, from a Macro view, as I think one has to have basically a singular focus in life from an inappropriately young age to "make it" here as an athlete. The filter system just has so much more competition along the way over here, whereas (I think) making it to the NBA from over there is more about true talent, love for the sport, etc (in the most general of senses). But man, to my American-conditioned sensibilities, it's hard not to view some of those guys' careers as missed opportunities, rather than the success stories they are, in reality.
I agree with your points in general, but is Luka's history typical of a Euro player? I mean he started his professional career so young and reached the pinnacle of European success before he was even eligible for the NBA draft. My impression is that Luka was all basketball, all the time during his pre-NBA years. Now he is married (or about to be?) has a kid (another pending?) talks about wanting to own a farm in Slovenia and currently has a net worth of ~$50M and is guaranteed an annual income of ~$43M/year for the next 5 years from just his NBA salary, never mind endorsements. The only motivation now to "improve" has to come from within himself, driven by his desire to compete and test himself against the best with the goal of gaining a Larry O trophy to cap his accomplishments.
My hope is that his aspirations for success outweigh the draw of complacency.