Nba

[McD]

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That Steph Curry’s some player!

Despite all the media hyperbole that surrounds a lot of American sports, I genuinely think we’re witnessing some generational players and cultural shifts in the NBA.

i don’t like him, but LeBron will end up an all time great (I would say is, but he’s not finished yet), who will be amongst the leaders in many career categories, a social commentator beyond most athletes, and someone who has singlehandedly changed the culture of free agency and player movement.

steph curry has changed how the league approaches and values 3 point shooting, and he’s demonstrated that a (relatively) small player can dominate a league of giants. His shooting skills are simply off the chart in regards to what was considered accurate and efficient shooting and scoring.

We’re watching 6’10’’ plus players who tradionally were entrenched next to the basket now comfortably playing 30 fee from the basket. Kevin Durant would’ve been played at center 15 years ago, now he’s essentially positionless, capable of playing anywhere on the floor.

Players are more outspoken for what they believe in, their wealth, public standing, social media and access to people have enabled them to speak up about racism, police brutality, Trump, injustice, poverty, natural disasters, and more. This just didn’t happen in the past. It happens outwith the NBA, as athletes such as J.J. Watt and Colin kaepernick have shown, but the NBA players seem to be much more inclined towards this, possibly because they operate in a league that seems to be in lockstep with its talent, unlike the NFL.

[LustForLeith]

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Despite all the media hyperbole that surrounds a lot of American sports, I genuinely think we’re witnessing some generational players and cultural shifts in the NBA.

i don’t like him, but LeBron will end up an all time great (I would say is, but he’s not finished yet), who will be amongst the leaders in many career categories, a social commentator beyond most athletes, and someone who has singlehandedly changed the culture of free agency and player movement.

steph curry has changed how the league approaches and values 3 point shooting, and he’s demonstrated that a (relatively) small player can dominate a league of giants. His shooting skills are simply off the chart in regards to what was considered accurate and efficient shooting and scoring.

We’re watching 6’10’’ plus players who tradionally were entrenched next to the basket now comfortably playing 30 fee from the basket. Kevin Durant would’ve been played at center 15 years ago, now he’s essentially positionless, capable of playing anywhere on the floor.

Players are more outspoken for what they believe in, their wealth, public standing, social media and access to people have enabled them to speak up about racism, police brutality, Trump, injustice, poverty, natural disasters, and more. This just didn’t happen in the past. It happens outwith the NBA, as athletes such as J.J. Watt and Colin kaepernick have shown, but the NBA players seem to be much more inclined towards this, possibly because they operate in a league that seems to be in lockstep with its talent, unlike the NFL.

I’m clearly no expert but is there a shift now with players who are positionless? Is Anthony Davis like that?

[McD]

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I’m clearly no expert but is there a shift now with players who are positionless? Is Anthony Davis like that?

I think theres definitely less ‘defined’ positions, with big men often seen (and almost expected) to be shooting three’s, whilst at the same time we're seeing guys like draymond green playing center when not so long ago, someone his size would be a small forward.

Anthony Davis is one of this new breed certainly, although he generally does play center, but is capable of shooting out to the three point line, and defending on the perimeter comfortably. Others like kristaps porzingis, Karl Anthony-towns, Lauri markannen, Durant are also in this ilk. Going back a few years, Chris bosh and dirk nowitzki probably started this shift, even LeBron has redefined positions, he’s comfortably capable of playing all 5 positions at a high level. Up until about 7-10 years ago, players were pigeon holed into one position, two at a push, and never encouraged to explore their boundaries. Now, we’re seeing players operating in places on court that fit their skills, or in some cases, being taken off the court because their skills don’t fit the modern style of play. Old fashioned centers are a dying breed, and often at the end of the rotation because modern big men like Davis are overwhelming them.

Theres also a shooting shift shift that’s been happening for a few years, where the likes of curry, Lillard, Kyrie Irving, klay Thomson, Durant, are rewriting the books in terms of what efficient scoring is, what is seen as effective shooting range, and asking questions of defences that have never been considered before.

[LustForLeith]

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I think theres definitely less ‘defined’ positions, with big men often seen (and almost expected) to be shooting three’s, whilst at the same time we're seeing guys like draymond green playing center when not so long ago, someone his size would be a small forward.

Anthony Davis is one of this new breed certainly, although he generally does play center, but is capable of shooting out to the three point line, and defending on the perimeter comfortably. Others like kristaps porzingis, Karl Anthony-towns, Lauri markannen, Durant are also in this ilk. Going back a few years, Chris bosh and dirk nowitzki probably started this shift, even LeBron has redefined positions, he’s comfortably capable of playing all 5 positions at a high level. Up until about 7-10 years ago, players were pigeon holed into one position, two at a push, and never encouraged to explore their boundaries. Now, we’re seeing players operating in places on court that fit their skills, or in some cases, being taken off the court because their skills don’t fit the modern style of play. Old fashioned centers are a dying breed, and often at the end of the rotation because modern big men like Davis are overwhelming them.

Theres also a shooting shift shift that’s been happening for a few years, where the likes of curry, Lillard, Kyrie Irving, klay Thomson, Durant, are rewriting the books in terms of what efficient scoring is, what is seen as effective shooting range, and asking questions of defences that have never been considered before.

Cheers.

I’m getting well into the sport, it’s taking my kind off Easter Road!

How does the current era of basketball match up with previous ones? The game defiantly picked up an interest with the likes of Jordan v Bird for instance.

[McD]

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Cheers.

I’m getting well into the sport, it’s taking my kind off Easter Road!

How does the current era of basketball match up with previous ones? The game defiantly picked up an interest with the likes of Jordan v Bird for instance.

Horses for courses tbh mate, a bit like trying to compare football in the 60s and 70s to now. Different styles, physical condition of the players totally different, even the footwear was archaic compared to today, from the 90s forward the footwear advancements have been significant, such cushioning, styling, branding, structure of the shoe.

the popularity of the sport has grown exponentially though. Magic Johnson played in the 1980 NBA finals as a rookie, and all of the games were on tape delay across the states, none of it was shown live. Magic and bird are generally credited with turning the league into something exciting and engaging, along with Dr J, Moses Malone, etc. Jordan arrived in 84, along with Charles Barkley, with Patrick Ewing and several other big names soon after. Jordan was electric from day one, amazing to watch as a player finding his way in the league, til he went on his run of 6 titles in 8 years in the 90s. The 90s themselves wee a bit of a dirge of negative defensive basketball, although massive names like Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, Garnett, Duncan, and more came into the league. After some dire play in the early 2000s, the league made some progressive changes to rules around defending, handchecking, and defensive structure, leading to more offensive players coming to the fore, ultimately leading to today with the likes of Steph and Durant. Equally, there’s been an evolution in both how defensive play and offensive strategies are deployed, with much more complexity and intricacy involved, and in players being utilised in ways that support their skill set rather than their height.


sorry, I’m a bit of a nerd hahaha

[LustForLeith]

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Horses for courses tbh mate, a bit like trying to compare football in the 60s and 70s to now. Different styles, physical condition of the players totally different, even the footwear was archaic compared to today, from the 90s forward the footwear advancements have been significant, such cushioning, styling, branding, structure of the shoe.

the popularity of the sport has grown exponentially though. Magic Johnson played in the 1980 NBA finals as a rookie, and all of the games were on tape delay across the states, none of it was shown live. Magic and bird are generally credited with turning the league into something exciting and engaging, along with Dr J, Moses Malone, etc. Jordan arrived in 84, along with Charles Barkley, with Patrick Ewing and several other big names soon after. Jordan was electric from day one, amazing to watch as a player finding his way in the league, til he went on his run of 6 titles in 8 years in the 90s. The 90s themselves wee a bit of a dirge of negative defensive basketball, although massive names like Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, Garnett, Duncan, and more came into the league. After some dire play in the early 2000s, the league made some progressive changes to rules around defending, handchecking, and defensive structure, leading to more offensive players coming to the fore, ultimately leading to today with the likes of Steph and Durant. Equally, there’s been an evolution in both how defensive play and offensive strategies are deployed, with much more complexity and intricacy involved, and in players being utilised in ways that support their skill set rather than their height.


sorry, I’m a bit of a nerd hahaha

No need to apologise, it’s quite interesting!

I might have picked this up wrong but wasn’t there a players strike at one point? Was it because Bird could be offered a better deal by any team other than Boston and he wasn’t happy about this? As a result players went on strike for ages. Probably picked this up wrong.

I remember hearing that Jordan for awhile, wasn’t the best player player in basketball, he wasn’t even the best paid player st the Bulls. He made an absolute fortune from Nike and it was when the new rules came in after the players went on strike that he got a better wage.

It’s probbaly rubbish!

[McD]

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No need to apologise, it’s quite interesting!

I might have picked this up wrong but wasn’t there a players strike at one point? Was it because Bird could be offered a better deal by any team other than Boston and he wasn’t happy about this? As a result players went on strike for ages. Probably picked this up wrong.

I remember hearing that Jordan for awhile, wasn’t the best player player in basketball, he wasn’t even the best paid player st the Bulls. He made an absolute fortune from Nike and it was when the new rules came in after the players went on strike that he got a better wage.

It’s probbaly rubbish!

I dont *think* there was a strike/lock out when Jordan was playing, there was one right after he retired for the second time, in 1998, which ended up with a much shortened season (50 games iirc, down from the usual 82, with no preseason games either). There’s been another lockout since then also. These days however, the league and the players union are very much in close contact and working closely hand in hand. The scale of money coming into the NBA just now is unprecedented, both the players and their union, and the league itself are very happy to work to their mutual benefit rather than split hairs and rock the boat.

When Jordan first came into the league, he was tagged as a player who was more driven by his own stats than winning, and that he neeed Phil Jackson to guide him to become more of a team player, which then led to him becoming the juggernaut and ultimately the GOAT. When you look at his individual stats and advanced metrics though, that argument doesn’t really add up, his stats from say 87-93 don’t vary a great deal, and ultimately its more a case of his teammates getting better (therefore meaning the other team had more to deal with than just jordan), better coaching provided by Jackson, and good drafting of new young players, and good trades (of which Jordan wasn’t always happy with). Kind of comical in hindsight given he’d won a college title, and an Olympic gold medal as a collegiate player in 84. The ‘stats selfish’ thing was more lazy journalism, and an unfair comparison to bird and magic who were different players, and a tag that was difficult to shake off for Jordan until he was holding multiple titles and the press began to change their rhetoric about him. Equally, magic was considered a coach killer when he was younger (his coach got sacked in a move publicly perceived to be all about appeasing him), and was a defensive sieve. Bird was labelled as slow and unathletic, and only where he was a token white in an increasingly black dominated sport. Now they’re both feted, as is Jordan.

In terms of pay, the contract structure was different to nowadays, where it’s actually pretty straightforward for journalists etc to predict what players could be paid in future deals, and the lengths of contracts are strictly governed. When Jordan was drafted, players could be paid silly money right from the off (now a rookie contract is linked to your draft position and monetary value clearly laid out), and often for different lengths of time. Jordan was (relative to the leagues top players) probably underpaid in the run up to and during the first 3peat, with a number of lesser players earning more (ironically in part due Jordan’s popularity and style increasing interest and money pouring into the league). For example, Scottie pipped signed something crazy like an 8 year deal in the late 80s, and within 4 years the league’s money had increased massively, money being paid to players signing deals later on was much more, even though they were average players not coming close to winning titles.

during the second 3peat, he was the highest paid player in the league, in fact I think it’s only in the last 3 years or so that the figures he was earning have been surpassed as an all time high single season figure. The lockout just after he retired began to usher in an era where there was caps placed on what a player can earn, based on league tenure, a teams willingness to go to the max level for any given player, how many max contracts a team already had, and that players performance in relation to being selected all-NBA, etc.

You are correct in that his earnings from Nike eclipsed his earnings with the bulls, bearing in mind that there’s a entire Nike brand based purely around him. He still earns a vast amount from his relationship with Nike even now.