Manu Ginobili passes but they get increasingly more amazing 

Right? But it's really non-AAU culture. American players are so focused on individual achievement that many of them never get it trained out of them. International players grow up with a more collaborative sport - and yes, futebol has a lot to do with it - so they think about the TEAM getting the best play. And they've been playing that way since they were kids. They just don't say it because it would be criticizing their host country. But there's a reason the Spurs have had so many non-American players.