Kevin Durant(photo below) expressed frustration regarding narratives that criticize American basketball (AAU) while praising European development, interpreting this as a subtle attack on Black American control of the sport. Stephen A. Smith supported this view, claiming the NBA's globalization strategy aims to "whiten" the league's image by favoring white, international, or American players.

Durant's argument pushed back against the narrative that "Euros do it right" while Americans do it wrong, suggesting it is a dig at Black American dominance in the sport.