Van Gundy Prefers European Players for NBA Draft

In a recent interview with Michelle Beadle on “Run It Back,” Stan Van Gundy shared his preference for European players over American ones if he had to pick someone at the top of the NBA draft. He pointed out the increasing success of foreign-born athletes as a reason for his choice.

“To be honest,” he remarked, “these players face competition against grown men, especially in Europe.” He mentioned some standout names like Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama, noting how impressive their performances have been against seasoned opponents.

Van Gundy reflected on the challenges of evaluating college players, admitting, “It feels tricky to grasp all the intangibles.” This thought seemed to stem from a conversation about Kansas freshman Darrin Peterson, who has been critiqued for his ongoing role with the Jayhawks.

While he mentioned that he doesn’t have enough insight into Peterson’s situation, he expressed a rather bleak view on the draft overall. “This draft, like every other, has its downsides,” he said. “You’re bound to disappoint some, and there will always be players who were overlooked but emerge as stars.” He admits that unpredictability is part of the excitement for him. “I look forward to that aspect every year,” he added, a mix of hope and skepticism in his tone.