In the US, debates are once again raging about whether players outside the US are better trained. Kevin Durant vehemently disagrees and is once again sparking discussions on social media.
The discussion was sparked by the fact that there has not been an MVP from the US since 2018. James Harden won back then, and since then, Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019, 2020), Nikola Jokic (2021, 2022, 2024), Joel Embiid (2023), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025) have shared the awards among themselves.
ESPN expert Jay Williams speculated on TV that players from the US were less willing to be coached. “Our coaches don’t dare say anything anymore because it would be used against them,” explained the former NBA player. When another user commented on the clip, saying that the US had become “soft,” Durant joined the discussion.
“Nonsense”: Durant fights back against debates
“Most international superstars have been influenced by our culture, and some of them were even trained by us,” KD wrote on X, referring to SGA and Embiid. “This discussion is nonsense because basketball is a global sport. Everyone teaches it a little differently, but what is the perfect training? To me, it’s all talk.”
One criticism that keeps coming up is that talent in the US is burned out by numerous tournaments (AAU). For Durant, that’s not a factor. “It’s preparation for when you’re a pro and you have to play 100 games a year. The more you play, the better you get. Sure, you can be in the gym all day doing drills, but that’s not the answer either. You need the right balance.”
In any case, the majority of players still come from the US. Durant sees the success of international superstars as a positive sign of how global the sport has become.
