What They Think About Us: Misperceptions of American Ballers Overseas
Perception is reality to the uninformed.
As a Black female athlete I’m used to dealing with stereotypes. Now being a Black American female athlete playing overseas, mostly in Europe, I’ve had to deal with a different set of stereotypes.
Here are a few misconceptions of American athletes playing overseas I’ve witnessed and experienced during my nine year career playing professional basketball abroad.
WE’RE ARROGANT
Now do arrogant and spoiled athletes who play at an elite level exist? Of course. Is it true that certain teams or clubs have had to deal with arrogant or spoiled athletes who happened to be American? Of course.
But we ain’t all the same.
Some of the perceived arrogance may just be the confidence we play with and have to live with to just maintain our sanity. Remember that we are all far from our homes, families, fans and support systems. Many of us battle homesickness and on top of that some of the cultural misunderstandings can wear you down emotionally and mentally.
Playing abroad when we’re winning the Americans are loved and adored. When we’re losing we are overrated, overpaid and it’s our fault. Now most of us athletes know that’s an ugly part that comes with the game when you’re at the elite level. We’ve had to deal with pressure and haters most of our lives. But when you’re thousands of miles away from those who have your back no matter what? The criticism just hit different.
So at times we have to be our biggest cheerleaders. Sometimes it’s not about building ourselves up, it’s about making sure we don’t fall apart.
WE’RE SPOILED
Most of us come from Division I programs. Some of us even experienced top of the line facilities at the high school level. We’re just used to being taken care of. We traveled comfortably, had great gear, were fed well, got treated by top trainer and doctors. We got accustomed to certain things. Every American athlete coming overseas has experienced that and every great athlete deserves that.
But over here a lot of those things aren’t available. OK many of them are. But not at the same level, not as plenty and not as easily accessible. So in addition to a new culture, lifestyle, food and language we have to adjust to not having access to things we had access to before. It’s not about lounging in luxury but protecting an athlete’s most valuable asset: our bodies.
Eventually our reality shifts over time and we just accept that things are different over here. But at first it can be hard. And people can tell. It’s hard for people who are experiencing their highest level to understand those who experienced a higher level when they weren’t even pro. So of course they think we’re spoiled.
But I don’t just want those things only for myself, I want them for all of us.
WE ONLY PLAY 1-ON-1
Many players that come overseas have been great role players and I’ve seen them not make it. Why? Because the European club’s deem them as a player that can’t score. In one sense, they say all we care about is playing one-on-one but then in order to get a job you need to score.
As an American playing overseas if you don’t get buckets you don’t get contracts.
There are over 200 teams in Europe. And that’s just for women. No team is watching tape of all the players to see who’s a great role player or who’s a lock down defensive specialist. So no we’re not all one-on-one players. But we’re paid and we’re pros. That’s why we do what we do. Because if the stats ain’t there at the end of season? You’re unemployed.
WE’RE NOT VERY SMART
I’ve had coaches tell me to my face wow you’re smart unlike most American players. And I’m like how am I supposed to respond to this? The stigma of the low basketball IQ is even worse when it comes to us Black American athletes. We’re often deemed to be great athletes but not great players.
Most of us come here with our bachelor degrees. Americans are sometimes surprised to learn that their non-American teammates never went to college or are currently in college. Doesn’t mean they’re not smart but us having degrees certainly means that we’re not dumb.
Sometimes it might take us a bit longer to understand what our coaches are saying. Not because we don’t grasp the concept but because of the language barrier. Most of them do speak English but it’s not perfect and maybe the phrasing is a bit different or the accent a bit thick. Now imagine all that in the heat of the game at a crucial moment. In a way we have to work harder to grasp what we need to do. So we might ask a coach or a player to clarify what’s been called not because we’re not smart but because we want to make the right play.
CAN’T BOX US IN
No this isn’t a misperception but just wrapping up here. Even though we may be American we’re all different. And every player is going to experience something different playing overseas.
Having played in five countries over nine years I know better than to judge another player without getting to know them first. Not judging at all would be best and Lord, I pray on that but I am human.
As for me, Jori Davis, born in New Orleans, lived in England and upstate New York and played in Israel, Romania, Switzerland, Italy and Spain?
I am a player first.
I am an elite athlete.
That happens to be American.
*** Always want to hear your thoughts and experiences too. Feel free to leave a comment below or to hit me up on IG or Twitter. It’s all about sharing and building a community. ***
