NBA Players Who Couldn't Speak English At First

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  • čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
  • International stars like Nikola Jokic, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Alperen Sengun, Mehmet Okur, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Timofey Mozgov and others entered the NBA not understanding or barely speaking English. Even though they learned the language later, their first interviews were really funny.
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Komentáře • 81

  • @BasketNews_com
    @BasketNews_com  Před 9 měsíci +5

    Whose first interview was the funniest? 😅 Let us know in the comments below ✍ If you enjoyed the video, help us grow by hitting the like button & subscribing to our channel! 🙌
    For more content like this visit: basketnews.com
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    • @dasiro
      @dasiro Před 9 měsíci

      you're having an entire video about funny (talking) European big men without including the biggest of them all: Boban

  • @jrexx2841
    @jrexx2841 Před 9 měsíci +167

    Shaq and Yao would make a great Rush Hour: Giant Edition

  • @aleksandar3771
    @aleksandar3771 Před 9 měsíci +36

    You didn't mention Vlade Divac. During the media conference after being drafted, the lakers GM even made a joke about how Vlade didn't understand a single word he was saying to him

  • @picklejuice4638
    @picklejuice4638 Před 9 měsíci +15

    Ilgauskas inner Lithuanian gopnik accidently came out during that dinner lol

  • @G505
    @G505 Před 9 měsíci +47

    This is grade A Content. I was meaning to compliment you guys, during the world cup, on how brave you are to do a podcast in your non native tongue. But you're definitely C2. 😉. Well done as usual

  • @bigdawgfrm4108
    @bigdawgfrm4108 Před 9 měsíci +7

    Yo I hope y’all understand where I’m coming from with this but as a black man who been around many all kinds of people from everywhere I find it hilarious somtimes when a foreigner learns English from us black Americans. In a funny way we always teach them the wrong shit. Like “wassup yo, I’m just chilling dawg” or seeing luka say “no cap” is hilarious we’re such bad influencers sometimes😂

  • @zorglub76
    @zorglub76 Před 9 měsíci +27

    I started following Jokic in 2017 and I could only hear him in interviews where he spoke English in his deep and rough voice. A year later I heard him speaking Serbian, and it was totally different. His voice is softer and higher pitch when talking Serbian compared to when he speaks English..

    • @shys5884
      @shys5884 Před 9 měsíci +14

      People from region where he is from tend to have higher pitch words (a lot of them) and to talk slowly to very slowly.

    • @tonijelecevic9238
      @tonijelecevic9238 Před 9 měsíci +6

      He let's his skills speak for him

    • @Olterior
      @Olterior Před 9 měsíci +3

      It's a common issue for any non native speaker. Where your native tongue comes to you naturally as you grow up and start to speak, 2nd or 3rd languages are often learned in a more formated way(school,tutor,college etc.) which leads to this situation where the person is unable to express their emotions properly through speech, so they end up sounding somewhat monotone.
      I am a native Lithuanian speaker, but have lived in an english speaking country for most of my life. Whilst day to day you can't tell I'm not a native speaker, if I try to be expressive(Like sing a song etc.) I sound very flat. Yet when singing in Lithuanian I have way more range.
      Yet if you asked me which language am I more comfortable speaking, I would say English. It is my primary language that I use daily, with Lithuanian reserved to talking with extended family most of the time.

    • @Xenon-cb5re
      @Xenon-cb5re Před 9 měsíci

      Higher pitched*
      Please speak English.

    • @shys5884
      @shys5884 Před 9 měsíci

      Sorry sir. no speak ingles gud

  • @amycarter8497
    @amycarter8497 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Wow! Loved this vid. So curious about our wonderful players from other countries. Would love more content on the differences between respective cultures. It’s fun to learn and makes one feel closer to the players. Thank you 😊

  • @doddysyq
    @doddysyq Před 8 měsíci +1

    like always great content with nice topic, the Ilgauskas's conversation from EnglishBaby channel was hilarious

  • @henningts
    @henningts Před 9 měsíci +6

    Nowitzki always spoke English. He went to highschool in Germany, so he had English in school for 6 or 7 years. Did you see his interviews at the nike hoop summit?

  • @GornoSoly
    @GornoSoly Před 9 měsíci +15

    Your channel is the best basketball channel and I follow a lot of channels. Swear.

    • @GornoSoly
      @GornoSoly Před 9 měsíci

      And yea, my english is broke too I know 😅

    • @BasketNews_com
      @BasketNews_com  Před 9 měsíci +6

      Thanks, my brother. 😎

  • @djordjespasic2179
    @djordjespasic2179 Před 9 měsíci

    You deserve more subscribers. Very good video. Keep it that way!

  • @modded321
    @modded321 Před 9 měsíci +7

    Vlade Divac my guys

  • @markomarkovic5729
    @markomarkovic5729 Před 9 měsíci +4

    Žarko Paspalj told in an interview that he didn't know a word of English when he signed for the Spurs in 1989.

    • @Soren_Skarsgard
      @Soren_Skarsgard Před 9 měsíci

      Is he serb or mtNegrian or sumpin else?

    • @markomarkovic5729
      @markomarkovic5729 Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@Soren_Skarsgard He's from Montenegro, but declares himself as a Serbian. He now lives in Belgrade and has Serbian citizenship. He was the vice-president of the Serbian Olympic Committee, and I think he now holds a position in the Basketball Federation of Serbia.

    • @Soren_Skarsgard
      @Soren_Skarsgard Před 9 měsíci

      @@markomarkovic5729 Ok, thanks bro... živio! 👍❤💪

  • @Kokuswolf
    @Kokuswolf Před 8 měsíci +1

    That's true, with six beer everyone speaks fluent foreign languages. Six beer for the listener and every language barrier is broken.

  • @shmykolas
    @shmykolas Před 9 měsíci +2

    Damn whos dis guy speakin
    Basketnews always comin up with some fayaaaa

  • @Milossinchubure
    @Milossinchubure Před 9 měsíci +5

    Actually, Zidrunas didn't sound so bad, accent is present, but form of sentences were correct. I don't know why it is strange to US guys, like itnis naturally to learn English instantly upon arrival into NBA?

  • @jrm8853
    @jrm8853 Před 9 měsíci +2

    I think Rui Hachimura should be in this one but still, great video!

  • @baldpdeng2035
    @baldpdeng2035 Před 9 měsíci +13

    Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a good addition here. He really struggled early on

    • @Xenon-cb5re
      @Xenon-cb5re Před 9 měsíci

      Meh. If you speak Greek, English isn't really necessary.

    • @baldpdeng2035
      @baldpdeng2035 Před 9 měsíci

      διαφωνώ@@Xenon-cb5re

    • @axljonsson1716
      @axljonsson1716 Před 8 měsíci +1

      His parents are from Nigeria and they spoke English in his home

  • @familyguyguy7520
    @familyguyguy7520 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Pass the fu**ing potatoes💀

  • @Daguhl
    @Daguhl Před 9 měsíci +17

    Anyone can learn English, it is not a particularly complicated language. Much funnier than the foreign players who speak English are the movies and series from the USA where the actors speak fake German (for whatever reason they don't use real German actors.).
    A little fun fact: English is a language based on Germanic. The first settlers in England were basically German-Anglo-Saxons. Even in America you can still see German influences in the language, such as Kindergarten, Doppelganger, Stein, Angst and more.
    I hope I haven't destroyed anyone's world view and thanks for the video BasketNews.

    • @Ben01tM
      @Ben01tM Před 9 měsíci

      Most of the vocab though is romance in origin. Not really that surprising when you look at the ruling class throughout the ages.

  • @davidsubotin7122
    @davidsubotin7122 Před 9 měsíci +5

    I think Vlade Divac is missing on this list

  • @nenadireland
    @nenadireland Před 9 měsíci +1

    You can add Dragic, Stojakovic and Divac to the list.

  • @jeremylynn8243
    @jeremylynn8243 Před 9 měsíci +1

    If i was sengun i would delay speaking in English as long as i can and keep on using that fine translator😅

  • @mantasbartasevicius3553
    @mantasbartasevicius3553 Před 9 měsíci

    Jonas Valanciunas, at the draft was hilarious :D

  • @livehockey09
    @livehockey09 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Y’all missed the most hilarious one. Valanciunas

  • @leanderquest
    @leanderquest Před 9 měsíci +1

    The commentators didn't learn how to pronounce Nowitzki's name though....Dirk is pronounced as "Deerk" as in "deer" or "beer"...

  • @1draigon
    @1draigon Před 9 měsíci +8

    Yao laughed at that first joke as well because let’s be honest it’s made up but super funny nonetheless

  • @Hinkenzo
    @Hinkenzo Před 9 měsíci

    Sengun was trash talking before he could actually speak proper English lol

  • @BugattiChiron_SS
    @BugattiChiron_SS Před měsícem

    2:34 movie name?

  • @hipking23
    @hipking23 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Kristaps porzingis English is perfect. Hardly hear an accent

  • @Rokixu
    @Rokixu Před 9 měsíci

    Bezakavicius back on track?

  • @ivan.kecman
    @ivan.kecman Před 8 měsíci

    divac admited in hoop cities: belgrade that he didn't speak english when he was drafted

  • @fajter00
    @fajter00 Před 9 měsíci

    Jokić was severely punished by NBA officials for language, when he picked up phrase "no homo"

  • @vladimirtoskov2320
    @vladimirtoskov2320 Před 8 měsíci

    You need Vlade Divac on this list 😂😂😂

  • @milosvojinovic5710
    @milosvojinovic5710 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Vlade Divac

  • @frequentlyoffline3917
    @frequentlyoffline3917 Před 9 měsíci

    If only there were media people who knew Baltic, Slavic or Balkan languages.

    • @markomarkovic5729
      @markomarkovic5729 Před 9 měsíci

      Slavic languages are spoken in the Balkans + Greek, Romanian and Albanian, but I guess bball isn't too popular in Romania and Albania.

  • @axljonsson1716
    @axljonsson1716 Před 8 měsíci

    I'm pretty sure Peja couldn't speak any English when he came over.

  • @alrosan3421
    @alrosan3421 Před 9 měsíci

    Argentinian Leandro Bolmaro from the wolves

  • @gorila987k
    @gorila987k Před 9 měsíci

    Vlade Divac x)

  • @milansilic8024
    @milansilic8024 Před 9 měsíci

    Oh you missed big time... Vlade Divac

  • @MihailaT.
    @MihailaT. Před 8 měsíci

    Vlade Divac missing from the list

  • @hatsuhioki9361
    @hatsuhioki9361 Před 8 měsíci

    Kai Jones is born in USA still in league and cant speak English.

  • @mzpogi
    @mzpogi Před 9 měsíci +5

    English is just a language not a test of intelligence

  • @kri1kri136
    @kri1kri136 Před 9 měsíci +6

    Who cares you wouldnt learn serbian in a 10 years

  • @wotplays7643
    @wotplays7643 Před 9 měsíci

    For all of us who understand broken English better original

  • @lujkarijeka2760
    @lujkarijeka2760 Před 9 měsíci

    Tabak had a great playing carieer? Being part of a roster on great teams, yes. Playing, not so much. Arapović was a beast compared to him. 😅

  • @KappoDB
    @KappoDB Před 8 měsíci

    Vlade Divac, he didn't speak ANY English

  • @ilijabrasic4999
    @ilijabrasic4999 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Serbia

  • @millg7252
    @millg7252 Před 9 měsíci +5

    Jokic still can't speak english 😢

  •  Před 9 měsíci

    I think it is very disturbing listen to sLovenian coach speaking English to sLovenian national basketball team during the timeouts... even though Mike Tobey interpreter is right next to him. And I also think thet if anyone on our team couldnt speak any English at all... they would play more basketball and less talking with referees in last World Cup.

    • @nenadireland
      @nenadireland Před 9 měsíci

      That's precisely why Serbian players don't want foreigners on the Serbian team.

  • @OZUndead
    @OZUndead Před 9 měsíci

    Wer ist Weltmeister?