Of course, best basketball players in the world play in the NBA, no doubt. But if you wanna "put up stats" NBA is an easier league than European ones. I remember Jennings who couldn't stay in the floor sometimes in Rome... and then, one year later, was scoring 50 points as a rookie in Milwaukee. NBA regular season is easier, you (players of course, not staff) don't study your opponents playbook all week long before the Sunday match. NBA teams can lose without being relegated, some of them lose on purpose, easy to play against those teams if you wanna put up stats. I think there are many reasons for a player to stay in Europe instead of going to play in the NBA, and I respect a lot of those reasons. Funny example, if you were a player like Bodiroga, a basketball fundamentals maestro, how would you feel to play in a league where the best player (LeBron) travels three times out of four? It's like realizing all the stuff your learnt in your career are useless. It's depressing.