Jae Crowder defends European basketball: “It’s great basketball and deserves respect”

04/11/202620:56

Jae Crowder LDLC Asvel Lyon - Bayern Munchen Monaco 16° International Basketball Tournament City of Cagliari Cagliari, 12/09/2026 Foto L.Canu / Ciamillo-Castoria

Jae Crowder has come to the defense of European basketball, responding to Gilbert Arenas’ recent criticism of the game across the Atlantic.

Jae Crowder has come to the defense of European basketball, responding to Gilbert Arenas’ recent criticism of the game across the Atlantic. The ASVEL forward, who spent 13 seasons in the NBA and reached two Finals as a starter, strongly disagreed with the former player’s comments.

“I just think it’s disrespectful to the European culture more so than the NBA guys,” Crowder told BasketNews. “I don’t take it personally. I know what I’ve done. I played, I did some stuff Gilbert Arenas never done. I started in the Finals. I played two Finals in the NBA as a starter. So, his comments, everyone has an opinion. I don’t agree with him.”

Crowder also questioned how someone could dismiss a competition without experiencing it firsthand, pointing to former NBA starter Jonas Valanciunas as an example of the talent playing in Europe.

“I think this is a great atmosphere. I think this is great basketball,” he added. “These are maybe not more athletic players, but they’re very smart, very intelligent teams, very intelligent coaches, very intelligent game plans. And I think you have to respect that, and I do respect it.”