The NBA is clearly the best basketball league in the world, but the jury is still out on who comes in second place. Some say it's definitely the EuroLeague, while others claim the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia has a strong case.
There are large fan and player cohorts, especially those based in the United States, who claim that the local NBA G-League is superseded only by its parent Association. They believe without question that, outside the NBA, the G League offers the most talent in global basketball. One of those players is former Sacramento Kings guard Kyle Guy , who has a unique perspective after playing in the NBA, the EuroLeague and the G-League.
"Talent-wise, the G-League is the second-best league in the world. And I've played in the EuroLeague," he claimed .
For many NCAA fans, Guy's career will be a familiar one. He was a prominent figure in college, suiting up for Virginia between 2016 and 2019. Kyle's crowning moment came in 2019, when he led Virginia to a national championship and was named the NCAA Final Four Outstanding Player for his performances during March Madness.
Standing at six-foot-one, despite dominating in college, analysts questioned whether his game could truly translate to the next level given his size and athletic limitations. It didn't matter to the Kings, though, who took a chance and selected him with the 55th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Impressively, Guy proved he could hold his own at the next level and remained with the Kings for two seasons. Unfortunately, a combination of scarce opportunity and a subpar developmental environment at the franchise meant his tenure had an expiration date.
He would frequently spend time with the Stockton Kings in the G-League, before departing Sacramento and swapping stints between the NBA and G-League for the Cleveland Charge, Miami Heat and Sioux Falls Skyforce while still in the U.S.
After playing his last game in the Association, Guy decided to walk away from the pursuit of spare NBA minutes in 2022. He headed to Europe, which many considered the next best move for his career.
Kyle spent two seasons abroad, being exposed to the EuroLeague and everything the continent had to offer. Needless to say, it was an experience that grew him as both a basketball player and a person and provided him with a unique barometer for the differences among the major leagues.
It's not often that players are afforded the opportunity to build such a large playing sample across the NBA, G-League and EuroLeague, but Guy seems to be the exception.
Because of this exposure, there's merit to be put into his opinion. After all, claiming the G-League is the second most talented league in the world isn't hyperbole. They have the most NBA-exposed players of any league in the world, and it's full of elite talent trying to work their way back into the league. Coupled with lottery picks receiving important developmental reps in the league, it makes for a highly competitive environment.
When assessing the performances put up in the G-League, too, it only strengthens Guy's sentiment. Recently, three-time Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung became the G-League's all-time leading scorer after exploding for 59 points and 10 assists. His journey is especially illuminating, considering McClung can't crack the league either, highlighting just how talented the NBA level is.
Guy has had a front row seat to it all, and perhaps his comments underscore an important distinction between raw talent and team-oriented success. The EuroLeague is revered for the cohesiveness and execution teams display nightly, whereas the G-League clearly features some of the most individually gifted basketball players on the planet. Because of this, whichever league comes in second might come down to personal preference.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
