It has always been a topic of discussion to put the old era of basketball and the new era on a scale and weigh which one was superior. Some would say this era is faster; others will say the previous era was stronger. It's a debate that will be worth having for decades.
Downsides of today's game
Some say that many views regarding the modern NBA are biased because many basketball analysts are retired players. However, individuals like Shaquille O'Neal , who retired in 2011, had a little taste of the basketball that ushered in the current game.
Of course, the game isn't the same as when the Hall of Famer retired 13 years ago. However, playing and dominating in multiple eras, Shaq's perspective on the evolution of the NBA is one worth considering.
"What I hate about watching this game now is everybody's running in the same place... that right there is the first thing," the four-time NBA champion said . "Nobody wants to take advantage of their abilities. Not the talent; you have to take advantage of your ability. If I'm the biggest guy out there, I'm not shooting jumpers."
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The physicality is gone
Speaking as a guest on the "OGs Podcast," the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar discussed how centers in today's game are too shot-happy despite being the biggest guys on the court, let alone playing with a physical edge.
"The third thing [is] it's not as physical, and I don't really like to compare eras either, but I want this thing of ours protected," he added.
With the constant emphasis on shooting in the modern NBA, physicality isn't the primary focus. As such, teams can line up playing without some positions on the court in this "positionless" era of basketball.
Players can now take the ball and score from a distance without contacting opposing players. Also, things like the hand-checking are no longer accepted in the league. Decades ago, defensive players could get away with using their hands to slow down or hit an opposing player to disrupt their movement, whether they were trying to move forward or side to side. It was virtually the only way average defenders could try to contain scorers like Michael Jordan , Dominique Wilkins, and O'Neal from going off every night.
However, that changed during the 2004-2005 season when the NBA abolished hand-checking. From then on, it became a foul, which allowed scoring to go through the roof. By the 2023-24 season, the NBA saw scoring jump by nearly 20% in points per game.
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