The triple-double struggle: 4 reasons it's tougher in Europe than the NBA / News - Basketnews.com

The NBA and EuroLeague's highest-tempo teams differ by almost 30 possessions per game, playing a crucial role in the rarity of triple-doubles in Europe.

Credit: Aitor Arrizabalaga via Getty Images Credit Aitor Arrizabalaga via Getty Images

NBA fans probably were wondering what happened with those Europeans celebrating just the fourth-ever triple-double in the EuroLeague 20 days ago.

Player of the Game EFF 42 Codi Miller-McIntyre Points 11 Accuracy 2-7 Rebounds 11 Assists 20

Baskonia point guard Codi Miller-McIntyre's achievement just illustrated the difference between basketball played in the NBA and the best league in Europe.

While Miller-McIntyre joined an exclusive club as only the third EuroLeague player to record a triple-double - fourth time all-time, Domantas Sabonis of Sacramento Kings leads the NBA this year with 21 triple-doubles in the 2023-24 season alone.

Russell Westbrook, the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles, has achieved this statistical mark 198 times.

Why is it so hard to get a triple-double in Europe compared to the NBA?

Errick McCollum broke it down in the recent URBONUS episode.

1. Rebounding

The lack of a defensive three-second violation in Europe enables big players to dominate the paint and take rebounds away from guards aiming for a triple-double.

"You usually taught the guard to be ready for the outlet passes, so it's really difficult for guards to get those 10-11 rebounds with those bigs already down there," Karsiyaka Izmir, guard, explained.

"With the emphasis on 3-point shooting, there are not a lot of classic big men in the NBA. So many of those fives and fours are on the perimeter on the 3-point line. It's a lot easier to run and get the rebound when you don't have to fight 7-footers," he added.

2. Assists counting

McCollum emphasized the massive difference in how assists are counted in Europe and the NBA.

"Their assists are not like our assists," McCollum insists.

"We actually create a basket for a person. My brother [CJ McCollum] is in the league. There's no shade, but I know the NBA," he laughed. "I watch games and see highlights when somebody gets 15 assists. And I watch, and it will be like pump fake, jab, pump fake, jab, tween, cross, tween, cross, step back, up, under, boom! Assist. I just don't understand how you created that shot."

Codi Miller-McIntyre

MIN:28.88PTS:8 (47.52%)REB:4.38As:7.19ST:0.88BL:0.08TO:1.96GM:26ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

In the EuroLeague, Miller-McIntyre averages over 7.0 assists per game, equivalent to tying for 11th place on the NBA leaderboards.

The contrast in total numbers is evident, with the Indiana Pacers topping the NBA assists leaderboard with 31.0 per night. EuroLeague-best Real Madrid's 21.2 assists would be league-worst in the NBA.

3. Offense dynamics

McCollum pointed out the more balanced offensive opportunities in Europe, where multiple players can shine, as opposed to the NBA's tendency to concentrate ball control among a few key players.

"In Europe, many offenses bring more equal opportunities," a 36-year-old veteran said. "Yes, we're point guards with Codi, and we're going to have the ball, but the twos also have the ball. Codi plays with the guy who is one of the top scorers in the EuroLeague [Markus Howard], who is coming off pin downs, staggers, shooting the ball, one-on-one, and is really good at isolation to find his 3-point shot. Those type of players are going to have the ball in their hands as well."

"In the NBA, there are probably two guys who will have the ball for most of the game. On a really good team, it's three guys. And everybody else is just a spot-up shooter. I'm not saying they don't have the capacity to create. It's just not their role," McCollum explained.

"Whereas in Europe, there's more balance. That's why you can see a random person any night scoring 20. Or a star player, who normally averages 17-18 points, scoring 6, and the team wins. That just doesn't happen in the NBA often because they'll shoot until they get their average," he added.

Joel Embiid, a dominant force in the NBA, commands the highest usage rate in the league. A staggering 38.6% of all Philadelphia 76ers plays conclude with Embiid scoring or turning the ball over when he is on the court.

There are 11 NBA players with a higher usage rate than 30.0%. To put this in context, the EuroLeague has four players surpassing this mark: Markus Howard (36%), Kendrick Nunn (34%), Willy Hernangomez (32%), and Sylvain Francisco (30%).

"48 minutes in the NBA vs. 40 in Europe," reminded McCollum. "Player usage in the EuroLeague is in the 28-31 minute range. Meanwhile, key players in the league [NBA] are in the 35-38-minute range. If you're on a Spanish or deep team, you're talking about 23-26 minutes per game. So it's really tough to fill all those stats in a short period," McCollum concluded.

Shane Larkin stands out among EuroLeague players, leading in average playing time with 33 minutes and 18 seconds per night.

In the NBA, a whopping 96 players receive over 30 minutes of playing time per night, and Larkin's EuroLeague figure would only rank him 52nd.

4. Pace

The NBA's faster pace, characterized by early shots and a push for scoring within a short time frame, contrasts with Europe's more methodical and lower-scoring approach, which has a vital impact on triple-double opportunities.

"In the NBA, there's a lot of early shots, two-for-ones, a lot of pushing the tempo, a lot of quick shots. Sometimes, they put emphasis on shooting within 8 seconds. Whereas in Europe, we're running more sets. It's a lower-scoring game. There's a lot of grit and grind," McCollum explained.

"I know the Spanish league runs, but they're physical in defense and do certain things before looking for the best possible shot. Sometimes, in the league, the best possible shot might not be a great shot. But the players are so special... He's a max player, so he's allowed to shoot that shot. While in Europe... You could be the guy, but there are not so many shots you can shoot before the coach says enough," he laughed.

Maccabi sets the pace for high-tempo basketball in the EuroLeague, boasting 74.3 possessions per night. For comparison, the Washington Wizards led the charge in the NBA, creating 103.3 possessions per game.

A high-tempo performance was key in a historic Miller-McIntyre's night.

"If you look at how we played against ASVEL, we were out. As soon as the shot got up, we got for the rebound. We were running and playing at a super high pace," Miller-McIntyre broke down his triple-double game. "When you play that way, it makes the opportunity to get a triple-double happen easier. But if you play slow, there's no chance."

In Euro basketball, achieving triple-doubles is not the norm, making such accomplishments even more remarkable. While slight rule changes in Europe contribute to increased opportunities for assists and rebounds, expecting a surge in triple-doubles remains challenging in the near future.

However, the EuroLeague boasts some players who could join this exclusive club. Discover their names in the recent URBONUS episode featuring Errick McCollum and Codi Miller-McIntyre:

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