Team Canada hockey= Team USA basketball?

[Hanji]

Actually yes it is at this very moment. Canada is in a class of their own in hockey and have no challengers on any level. We are just that good I'm afraid! Just like America is in a class of their own in basketball and have no real rivals as well. However other countries are beginning to emerge some great talent and one day the USA will face more stiffer competition on the world stage in BBall. But we are comparing apples to oranges and this debate is pointless.

Oh cmon. Because both countries are in a class of their own doesn't mean Canada is anywhere near the US. It's not even close.

When Canada starts producing 90% of the world's elite talent (like the US does in basketball), then you'll have a point.

 

[Jaykay]

C'mon, that's a silly comparison.

 

[Xokkeu]

the reason this comparison is off is less to do with the Canada v USA comparison and more to do with the the rest of the world comparison. Canada produces the most elite hockey players just as the US does for basketball. The major difference is that the rest of the world produces elite hockey players but has produced almost no new elite basketball players.

Whereas you have guys like Laine, Draisaitl, Landeskog, Karlsson, Hedman, Tarasenko, Eichel, Mathews etc

Basketball really only has Kristaps Porzingis, TBD Ben Simmons and debatably Andrew Wiggins.


If you made an all world team you'd likely have several non Canadians. Kopitar, Karlsson, Kane, Ovechkin.

If you made an all world basketball team you might not have one non American at this point.