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Gilbert Arenas’ Unfiltered Take on Rex Chapman’s ‘Demise of White Americans in the NBA’ Theory – FirstSportz

Gilbert Arenas’ Unfiltered Take on Rex Chapman’s ‘Demise of White Americans in the NBA’ Theory – FirstSportz

The recent comments of Rex Chapman highlighted a notable development in the NBA: the exclusion of white American players from All-NBA team rosters over the previous decade. In particular, Gilbert Arenas also gave his opinion on the No Chill Gill show, largely agreeing with Chapman’s statements about the demise of the white American in the NBA.

Rex Chapman was a high school legend and former NBA player. He played for the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornet and Phoenix Suns and analyzed the current situation in basketball. He suggested that white families in the US do not encourage their children, unlike Europeans.

"We don't put Billy and Johnny and we put them in soccer and we put them in baseball and we put them in lacrosse and tennis and everything else. Basketball, that's for them. It's not for our type. That's f**ked up,"

Rex Chapman via ‘Pablo Torre Discovered’

Gilbert Arenas, who has never been afraid to express his unfiltered opinions, agreed with Chapman. The ex-NBA star also stressed that white Americans were being “pushed away” by Europeans.

"No one really explained what happened to the white American (player)… White parents were discouraging their kids from going down this road in sports." 

Gilbert Arenas via the podcast ‘No Chill Gil’

Furthermore, Chapman and Arenas both argued how the AAU system in American basketball has hindered young players, particularly white American players, from developing in the sport. Both also highlighted how European white players are now among the elite in decorated basketball leagues.

Arenas is also familiar with AAU basketball from personal experience and is unhappy with the softening of players. While players are free to choose where they want to play, it is a concern that they avoid confrontation and aggression from their coaches when people want to see more white Americans playing in the NBA.

Nick Young makes big statement about European basketball players after Celtics win NBA title

Gilbert Arenas and Rex Chapman are not the first NBA players to criticize the dominance of Europeans in the NBA. Nick JongThe former Lakers star was also pleased to see two European stars eliminated in 2024. The Boston Celtics won the title after beating the Dallas Mavericks and their star player Luka Doncic.

"Let’s give it up for America. Because we won baby. America won baby. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown did it for America. They put Luka a**out. Oh my god. I got so tired of everybody talking about these foreigners and sh*t. America is here baby. It’s America’s league baby."

Nick Young via Gil’s Arena Podcast

On the contrary, leading foreign players such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpoand Doncic have had a major impact on the NBA, which is becoming an increasingly global league. By staging games abroad and having athletes compete from different countries, the league has fostered inclusivity.

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