Why is Slovenia such a hotbed for NBA talent? [Archive]

Marcus Bryant

07-12-2005, 01:19 AM

Perhaps I am off but it seems like Slovenia has a disproportionate number of players who can make it into the NBA relative to its population. Any Slovene poster have an idea? Is it something in the water? the air? I am really curious. Are sports popular in Slovenia which emphasize skills useful for basketball (ie handball)?

http://coronn.com/TOPOS/slovenia/bled/images/etta.jpg

A master race with Amazon-like women who give birth to superhuman offspring?

http://www.fast-women.com/photos/adidasindoor02/adidas03.jpg

Slo-ven-i-a. Slo-ven-i-a. It borders on the Ad-ri-atic.*

http://home.att.net/~bpatftw/slovenia.jpg

I want to believe.

-MB

*Bonus points to whoever first gets that reference.

timvp

07-12-2005, 01:40 AM

Five players in the NBA. Two more drafted. The second best point guard in Europe is Slovenian. 8 foot kid that magically appeared in the European tournament who is averaging like 12 blocks a game.

It must be the water or air or something. Though having an average height in the country of 6-foot-5 doesn't hurt.

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 01:52 AM

and that pissing me off a bit.
You know Poland has almost 40 mln. people Slovenia about 2 milions.
Our sport sucks with just few exceptions

SpizdiStrann

07-12-2005, 02:19 AM

Five players in the NBA. Two more drafted. The second best point guard in Europe is Slovenian.

and probablly best PF in europe is also Slovenian. Smodis, he talked to few nba teams this summer, but now he decided to sign 5M three year contract with CSKA Moscow.

It must be the water or air or something.

maybe.. but there is such a big number of great players, playing all over europe that we can´t believe how we hadn´t made a bigger result on any championship. we need to wait a few months, ...and blow away french team for breakfast!!!

and i´m 6½0, but i dunked first time with both hands on my 16 birthsday.

whottt

07-12-2005, 02:20 AM

and that pissing me off a bit.
You know Poland has almost 40 mln. people Slovenia about 2 milions.
Our sport sucks with just few exceptions

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/topmuscu/images/marius%20pudzianowski/marius4.jpg

Marcus Bryant

07-12-2005, 02:22 AM

Backyard weightlifting?

whottt

07-12-2005, 02:25 AM

Have some respect for the world's strongest man...Poland had to choose, world's strongest man, or basketball players...

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 02:25 AM

Backyard weightlifting?
hehe Pudzian
The strongest man in the world

OM_fever

07-12-2005, 03:04 AM

I would like to react. I've seen on french tv that a survey showed that the number of people around 7 foot is so important in all the ex Yugoslavia compared to France, it was like 10 times more at least, which is huge. It seems to be due to the mountain chain surrending those countries.
Furthermore, the basketball culture seems to be more important in ex Yugoslavia, I've talked with some Serbian / Croatian friends about that and they really consider this sport as number one with football, which is really different for other countries. (football is THE sport in Europe & Latin America)

So I would say height & cutlture could explain that fact.

DieMrBond

07-12-2005, 03:17 AM

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n2_v19/ai_20159533

Consider these statistics: in 1850 Americans were the tallest people in the world, with American men averaging 5'6". Almost 150 years later, American men now average 5'8", but we have fallen in the standings and are now only the third tallest people in the world. In first place are the Dutch. Back in 1850 they averaged only 5'4" -- the shortest men in Europe -- but today they are a towering 5'10"

Maybe the spurs should be scouting for the next dunking dutchman...?

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 03:22 AM

Marcus, that first picture of the village by the sea is really beautiful... what is it off and where did yo get it?

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 03:26 AM

Marcus, that first picture of the village by the sea is really beautiful... what is it off and where did yo get it?
I think he get it from the google site :rolleyes

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 03:28 AM

Is it Slovenia?

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 03:42 AM

Is it Slovenia?
maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

must be :fro :smokin

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 03:48 AM

If so... wow! Slovenia is even more beautiful than I imagined! = )

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 03:50 AM

That picture makes me think of a fairy tale land. Magical!

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 03:54 AM

Mountains and lakes are beutifull always. Then the photographers comes to work and then you have pictures like that.
We also have got some mountains :)

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 03:58 AM

tell me about poland... like what time is it there now?

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 04:03 AM

11 am nothing special after all.
What do you want to know?
Do you know that Poland is in Europe? The Europe is continent just like America.
We've got some mountains some sea some stupid politicians, and some stupid people.
We are not ver weathy country. But it is not that bad as many think (I think)

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 04:08 AM

Wow seven hours difference.

There has to be something unique about your country that you boast about... tell me that.

SlovenianGuy

07-12-2005, 04:14 AM

The picture above is Bled and the church in the front is on the island in the middle of a lake.

http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/pictures/photoalbum/2003/14_big_AS_13.jpgvecja.jpg
Krvavec ski slope

http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/pictures/photoalbum/2003/20_big_AS_18.jpgvecja.jpg
vineyard form Stajerska region

http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/pictures/photoalbum/2003/10_big_AS_09.jpgvecja.jpg
slovenian coast

http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/pictures/photoalbum/2003/7_big_AS_06.jpgvecja.jpg
Postojna cave

http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/pictures/photoalbum/2003/6_big_AS_05.jpgvecja.jpg
rafting on the Soca river

http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/pictures/photoalbum/2003/1_big_AS_01.jpgvecja.jpg
Triglav, the highest Slovenian mountain

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 04:16 AM

Yes - corruption.
And finding the ways how to be smarter than the law.

But we've got some beautifull women , (hehe the region)
Weather is well in summer hot (but not that much) and in winter snows (sometimes heavily).

SlovenianGuy

07-12-2005, 04:19 AM

BTW, Krakow and Gdansk are much more beautiful than any of the slovenian cities.

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 04:19 AM

aha and in Poland there are many old bulildings, architectry and stuff like that.

Also great wivs but I think Slovenia has got more of them (a bit) :)

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 04:20 AM

BTW, Krakow and Gdansk are much more beautiful than any of the slovenian cities.
Maybe.
I live 20km from Gdansk.
But I was never in keen of the cityies

Slomo

07-12-2005, 04:24 AM

http://coronn.com/TOPOS/slovenia/bled/images/etta.jpg

That's lake Bled. A small alpine lake in the North west of Slovenia (the church in the foreground is actually on a small island, it has a bell you can ring and make a wish, it is supposed to be very effective in matters of the heart). A few miles further there's also lake Bohinj that many consider even prettier although not so photogenic.

As for the Marcus' question I honestly do not know. Basketball is very popular in Slovenia and there's a lot of "open" courts all over the place where you will see young people playing "street" basketball all day long. Tradition is also important since Basketball was a very popular sport in our former country - to this day people speak about Yugoslavia's win over the Soviet Union for the world championship title. Another reason is also that the Yugoslav school of coaching is one of the best and has dominated european basketballs for many years.
In all fairness - I hope other Slovenian posters here can prove me wrong - NBA knowledge is not very good. People that know about what is going on in the NBA are usually part of a fanatical minority - the general public knows very little about it (beside the usual populistic crap that medias are serving all over the world).

I'm sure all of the above are contributing factors, but it is true also for many other countries - so it might be the water :)

SlovenianGuy

07-12-2005, 04:45 AM

Uros Slokar is playing very well in the Summer Pro League.

vs. mavs 9 points (2-2 FG, 5-5 FT), 4 rebounds in 18 minutes
vs. heat 20 points (7-10 FG, 6-8 FT), 9 rebounds in 30 minutes
vs. grizzlies 8 points (3-7 FG, 2-4 FT), 6 rebounds in 22 min
vs. lakers 20 points (6-9 FG, 1-1 3pts, 7-11 FT), 10 rebounds in 34 min

averages:
14,25 ppg
64,3% FG
100% 3FG
71,4% FT
7,25 RPG

Slo spurs fan

07-12-2005, 04:56 AM

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 05:18 AM

Thanks Slomo! I am definitely want to visit that church when I save enough to go to Slovenia--- maybe next summer! = )

ZStomp

07-12-2005, 05:28 AM

Thanks Slomo! I am definitely want to visit that church when I save enough to go to Slovenia--- maybe next summer! = )

Darn...u up early Angel

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 05:33 AM

I had a nightmare... and am housesitting. I didn't feel like being alone.

ZStomp

07-12-2005, 05:34 AM

I had a nightmare... and am housesitting. I didn't feel like being alone.

I'm on my way! :) I'm working so it's not out of my way..:)

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 05:40 AM

= ) No need! You guys have already made me feel better. = )

Egg

07-12-2005, 05:47 AM

polandprzem is ur name przemislav?.. cause ive got a polish friend whos called like that--

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 05:51 AM

Okay, good night guys. I am off to dream about beautiful Slovenian Islands. = )

Kori Ellis

07-12-2005, 05:54 AM

Angel, next time you are at our house, check out the book and the DVD that Slomo gave us of Slovenia. You'll see that it's very beautiful.

ZStomp

07-12-2005, 05:57 AM

= ) No need! You guys have already made me feel better. = )

Darn! :lol

Kori Ellis

07-12-2005, 05:58 AM

Good try, ZStomp. :lmao

ZStomp

07-12-2005, 06:00 AM

Haha...it was for my roommate!

Karl Mundt

07-12-2005, 06:39 AM

A master race with Amazon-like women who give birth to superhuman offspring?

There you go.

In seriousness, it's probably simply due to good organization in the last 10, 15 years, specially in youth competitions. Also of note is the fact that a large chunk of the best players are not really ethnically Slovenian but either Serbian or Croatian, it's certainly disproportionate to the rest of rest of the population, what that tells you i don't really know. Certainly doesn't point out to any genetic superiority of the Slovenian basketball culture.

BTW, i thought Montenegrians (it's not Montenegros is it?) were the tallest people on Earth.

Slomo

07-12-2005, 06:50 AM

There you go.

In seriousness, it's probably simply due to good organization in the last 10, 15 years, specially in youth competitions. Also of note is the fact that a large chunk of the best players are not really ethnically Slovenian but either Serbian or Croatian, it's certainly disproportionate to the rest of rest of the population, what that tells you i don't really know. Certainly doesn't point out to any genetic superiority of the Slovenian basketball culture.

BTW, i thought Montenegrians (it's not Montenegros is it?) were the tallest people on Earth. Although I disagree with you on the ethnic origin of our players (it's not a majority), it is true that if you look at the numbers of players out of the ex-YU, then the dominance among foreign players in the NBA is very obvious. The organization and popularity of basketball in Yugoslavia are probably the best explanation (Slovenia being one of the benificiary of that organization).

And no, I don't think it's genetic :) (as I said before - must be the water :lol)

I don't know about the Montenegrians(?) but I've never seen so many tall men as in Holland.

timvp

07-12-2005, 06:55 AM

I've never met a Slovenian shorter than 6'2.

Karl Mundt

07-12-2005, 07:22 AM

Although I disagree with you on the ethnic origin of our players (it's not a majority), it is true that if you look at the numbers of players out of the ex-YU, then the dominance among foreign players in the NBA is very obvious. The organization and popularity of basketball in Yugoslavia are probably the best explanation (Slovenia being one of the benificiary of that organization).

It's not a majority, but if you can imagine a percentage of them, and the percentage of the same ethnic groups in the general population, i think it's fair to say it's a lot larger. The origins of this or what it says though, i have no idea, just thought it was interesting.

With all the talk about having a Team USA vs. Rest of the World game in the all-star weekend, maybe there should be a 4 team tournament with Team USA, Ex-Yugoslavia, Argentina and Rest of the World.

boutons

07-12-2005, 07:31 AM

The Dutch are tall, and there are plenty of tall people in Germany and Scandinavia, essentially the same genetic pool.

I think the reason the USA has fallen behind in average height is the influx of millions of Central/South Americans and East Asians, an influx that wil continue. The Americans of northern European ancestry aren't getting shorter, but "American" is less and less European/African and more and more shorties from C./S.America and Asian.

polandprzem

07-12-2005, 07:57 AM

polandprzem is ur name przemislav?.. cause ive got a polish friend whos called like that--
Yes my name is Przemyslaw.

Any other questions? PM me cause My 'vacation' will start in an hour and I won't be here about 3 weeks

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 10:12 AM

Angel, next time you are at our house, check out the book and the DVD that Slomo gave us of Slovenia. You'll see that it's very beautiful.

That would be awesome! So far the only thing I don't like about Slovenia is their brandy! LOL.

Slomo

07-12-2005, 11:59 AM

It's not a majority, but if you can imagine a percentage of them, and the percentage of the same ethnic groups in the general population, i think it's fair to say it's a lot larger. The origins of this or what it says though, i have no idea, just thought it was interesting.

With all the talk about having a Team USA vs. Rest of the World game in the all-star weekend, maybe there should be a 4 team tournament with Team USA, Ex-Yugoslavia, Argentina and Rest of the World.
That would be much more interesting than the current format - but also more dangerous injury wise, you can bet that it wouldn't be just a show, but some players/teams would take it very seriously.

Ed Helicopter Jones

07-12-2005, 12:18 PM

Being that my heritage is based in eastern Europe in Slovenia and the surrounding countries I can tell you that it's because we're simply better than the rest of you.

Stronger, faster, bigger, smarter. No matter how you slice it we are superior in every conceivable way.

Thank you very much.

SWC Bonfire

07-12-2005, 12:21 PM

Stronger, faster, bigger, smarter.

Yeah, but I cost a lot less than Six Million Dollars. :lol

Spurzilla

07-12-2005, 03:37 PM

Slo-ven-i-a. Slo-ven-i-a. It borders on the Ad-ri-atic.*

http://home.att.net/~bpatftw/slovenia.jpg

I want to believe.

-MB

*Bonus points to whoever first gets that reference.

I'll take a stab at it. It borders on the Adriatic Sea.
You've adapted the common phrase "It borders on the idiotic."
Ok, what do I win??? :spin

P.S. I've passed 50 posts!

Marcus Bryant

07-12-2005, 03:54 PM

Incorrect.

angel_luv

07-12-2005, 04:16 PM

Are we trying to figure out what it borders on????

Is it a play on words?
What rhymes with adriatic? idiotic? I failed foreign pronounciation.

ALVAREZ6

07-12-2005, 04:18 PM

It must be the water or air or something. Though having an average height in the country of 6-foot-5 doesn't hurt.
Are you freakin kidding me????

That's crazy.

tlongII

07-12-2005, 04:19 PM

Which country has produced more NBA players, Slovenia or Lithuania? I'm guessing Lithuania.

Spurminator

07-12-2005, 04:19 PM

Its land is mostly mountainous, and its chief export is chrome.

SWC Bonfire

07-12-2005, 04:24 PM

Its land is mostly mountainous, and its chief export is chrome.

Traces of heavy metals in the water, perhaps? :lol

If you don't believe people are getting taller in general, just look at the high school football rosters this fall and compare them to when you played. In just 10 years (for me), the height & size of kids are unreal!

CubanMustGo

07-12-2005, 04:27 PM

Can you say "chemically enhanced? "

SWC Bonfire

07-12-2005, 04:29 PM

Can you say "chemically enhanced? "

What, Slovenians or high school kids? It probably has more to do with increased prenatal care & more available nutrition for growing children in modern society (in both cases).

Slomo

07-12-2005, 05:17 PM

Its land is mostly mountainous, and its chief export is chrome.
???

TheRadiator

07-13-2005, 01:37 AM

Poland had to choose, world's strongest man, or basketball players...
I had to make a reply to this topic...

You guys should understand this:
Slovenia is a sporting country. Even the main tourist activities are adventure and extreme sports.

And for the reply on "the choice Poland had to make", hehe...
Well here goes:
- Slovenia has the only man that swam across whole rivers like Mississippi, Jangcekiang, Themse, Dunau and many other multimile long rivers - Martin Strel
- Slovenia has the best cycler over US (last and this year winner of the race across USA) - Jure Robic
- Slovenia has the best rower in the world after english Sir Steven Redgrave - Iztok Cop - this year he is aiming for two medals on WC
- Slovenia has one of the best rifle shooters in the world (scored some 5 or more world records) - Rajmond Debevec
- Slovenia has one of the best handball teams in the world (man and even women europe champs)
- Paraski World Champion in individual and team run Matej Becan
- Slovenia has a pair of best Latino-american dancers in the world (won some 3-5 world championships) Ventorini-Skufca
- Judo and kickboxing is also high in the world
- hack we even have an American Football team that was just after the NATO guys in the Adriatic Cup (central europe)
- we also had some of the best skiers, ski jumpers, bowlers, soccer (although I kind of don't think it's a succes just to be part of the FIFA WC)

And I believe I left some important guys out, but you got the picture... Slovenians live for sports...

Matiz

07-13-2005, 03:53 AM

Which country has produced more NBA players, Slovenia or Lithuania? I'm guessing Lithuania.
I doubt it...
Marko Milic (played in 98 and 99)
Rasho
Brezec
Sasa Vujacic
Beno Udrih
Nachbar
Nikoloz Tskitischvili (learned to play bball in Slovenia, was in Italy for only 3 months...)
Vladimir Stepania (in Slovenia since he was 16)
Soumaila Samake (Slovan club discovered him...)

drafted:
Becirovic was drafted by Nuggets and should get to NBA as soon as he gets healthy
Lorbek
Slokar

Slomo

07-13-2005, 04:35 AM

Oh, and for those of you who have not yet noticed from this thread - or other similar one: We're extremely proud and protective of our little country (when we were attacked in 1991, Austria built a couple of refugee camps on our borders capable of accepting thousands of refugees - a total of 4 families showed up, most of them Czech tourists).
:makemyday :lol

Americans do not have the monopoly on patriotism :)

MaNuMaNiAc

07-13-2005, 04:48 AM

- Slovenia has a pair of best Latino-american dancers in the world (won some 3-5 world championships) Ventorini-Skufca

Not arguing the fact, but I just don't think dancing qualifies as a sport my friend LOL Other than that a very impressive list of accoplishments for a nation that only has what? 2 million inhabitants?

TheRadiator

07-13-2005, 04:57 AM

heh.. tell that to the dancers if you dare... Dancing is in the news Sports section though... (not really like chess)

:P

cmc$purs

07-13-2005, 06:10 AM

WOW slovenia is a very pretty country :wow i showed my wife the pics & she asked about going there... the coast pic was nice ..any resorts..tourist stuff...time share :lol god no timeshare...about a spurstalk exchange program...that would be too cool :spin ...we would show you ours if you show us yours :spin

Slomo

07-13-2005, 07:53 AM

You can find informations about:
Ljubljana (http://www.ljubljana-tourism.si/index.cgi?set_lang=us)
Slovenia Tourist Board
(http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/intro/)Nice pics (http://www.burger.si/)

Clandestino

07-13-2005, 08:33 AM

slovenija is awesome..been there many times.. great wine, great women, great scenery..what more could you want... and the people are some of the nicest in europe and they speak english more than any other country

Rummpd

07-13-2005, 08:49 AM

Been there - has to be the darn BEER!

fonzy16

07-13-2005, 09:12 AM

[QUOTE=Slomo]http://coronn.com/TOPOS/slovenia/bled/images/etta.jpg

hehehe i live here! :smokin

angel_luv

07-13-2005, 09:15 AM

You are so lucky! I can't wait to go there!

fonzy16

07-13-2005, 09:25 AM

yeah it's a nice place. right above the church you can see the castle on the rock.

the story goes, that when the slovan/slavic tribes (our ancestors) went deeper and deeper towards the western europe, fighting their way and nothing could stop them. when they came to Bled (place pictured), they saw this heaven on earth and were so moved that a tear fell over their cheeks. they stopped, droped their weapons, forgot about fighting and settled here. Bled is now one of the most western slavic towns in europe.