For NBA players, international hoops is a whole new ballgame

It is, of course, still basketball.

But a few rule differences — some obvious, some subtle — in the international game vs. the NBA combine to create a vastly different on-court product.

In the new environment, some NBA players falter while others thrive. 

"If you like the challenge, if you like to measure yourself, if you like to be tested mentally, physically, emotionally," said Michael Meeks, an analyst with the Canadian men's team at the Olympics who competed in 2000. "If you like to grow and expand — if you've got a growth mindset — and then you're an ultimate competitor, these are the kind of characteristics that players need to have to be impactful at this. 

One of those guys appears to be Dillon Brooks, who was the emotional leader of a Canadian team that won bronze and qualified for these Olympics at last year's World Cup. Brooks scored a record 39 points in a medal-winning game as Canada topped the U.S. to reach the podium.

In Canada's first game at Paris 2024, an 86-79 win over Greece on Saturday, Brooks contributed 14 points and five rebounds. Canada outscored Greece by 24 points when he was on the court.

WATCH | Brooks, Canada top Greece:

But Brooks, who plays in the NBA for the Houston Rockets, also fouled out — with five calls against him. Lu Dort, another notoriously aggressive defender, fouled out too.

In the NBA, of course, it would take six fouls to be disqualified from a game. Then again, NBA games consist of 48 minutes — Olympic games are just 40.

Meeks said because of the shortened game length, the value of each possession is the greatest difference between NBA and international hoops.

"Any day of the week you can watch the NBA and a team will be down 20, down 15 and they'll come back and win