Commissioner Adam Silver gave his State of the NBA address yesterday during All-Star Weekend. This year it was more a state of world basketball address. 

Nearly 30% of NBA players are now foreign born or foreign trained. The increased globalization of the Association surely pleases Adam and augurs powerfully for future markets, always his forefront touchstone. But Adam saw a dark cloud in front of the silver.

American players are not prepared. They play too many games and spend too little time practicing, getting instruction, being coached. They are not well-rounded. This is most evident, he said, in their defense when they come into the Association. The American players prepare by playing games on playgrounds and in driveways and hone miraculous offensive skills but are not team players. 

The commissioner's diagnosis, which I had never heard, nor thought of, before comports well with my observations. Why is it that so many American high, high draft picks seem to need a year or two of seasoning? Why have the last five NBA MVPs been foreign-born or foreign-trained?

Adam wants to shift league focus a bit away from college-age players to the younger American players in the city parks and rec centers. Bad habits as well as good are developed in the most formative years.