One Play Will Show How SOFT the NBA Has Become

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One Play Will Show How SOFT the NBA Has Become

In recent years, the NBA has become a much less physical game. A play from a Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz matchup in the 90s serves as a perfect example of how drastically the league has changed. In this play, Chris Webber of the Kings, standing 6’10” and weighing 250 pounds, lays a crushing screen on the 170-pound John Stockton. It’s a hit so hard that Stockton’s feet come off the ground, and it’s clear that Webber’s aim was to impose his physicality and set the tone for the game.

At the time, the commentators simply noted Stockton’s slow rise, remarking that it was unusual for him. But they didn’t treat it like the catastrophe it would be in today’s NBA. In fact, the only penalty was a personal foul on Webber, which many would argue would result in a flagrant foul and ejection today. What’s notable here is how Stockton reacts to the hit. After a brief moment on the floor, he quickly gets up, approaches Webber, and says, “Nice screen,” with no drama or complaints.

Imagine a similar hit happening today, especially to a player like LeBron James, who would likely need a stretcher if he were hit with the same force. The difference in reactions between players back then and now is striking. In today’s NBA, a player might take several minutes to get up, drawing attention to the foul, and players would immediately call for an ejection or a flagrant foul.

Chris Webber himself later confirmed that the hard screen was intentional, designed to send a message early in the game. It was a strategy often used back in the 90s and early 2000s to set a physical tone for a matchup. Unfortunately, today’s NBA is vastly different. Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA, even mentioned how the league has intentionally removed much of the physicality to improve “freedom of movement.” This shift has led to a league where players are less accustomed to receiving and delivering hard hits like the one Webber gave Stockton.

Players like LeBron, who is known for his size and strength, would rarely receive hits like Stockton did back then, and if they did, the response would be an uproar from fans and the media. In the past, however, players were expected to fight through the pain and continue the game with minimal drama.

The comparison between the current NBA and the league of the past is clear. In the 90s and early 2000s, hard screens, elbows, and physical confrontations were part of the game. It was a time when the game was defined by toughness, and the players were conditioned to handle it. Today, the NBA has evolved into a much more finesse-oriented league, with less emphasis on the physical side of the sport.

The video of Chris Webber recalling this moment, along with John Stockton’s surprisingly calm reaction, serves as a stark reminder of how much the game has changed. Today, a similar play would result in complaints about flopping, unfairness, and unfair penalties, whereas back then, it was just part of the game.

This evolution has sparked debates between fans of the “old school” NBA and the current generation. Some argue that modern players are softer and less durable, while others believe that the change has made the game more enjoyable for a wider audience. However, one thing is certain: the NBA of today is far removed from the league that once featured players like Webber, Stockton, and other hard-nosed stars who were willing to take and deliver punishment.

In conclusion, this specific play between Chris Webber and John Stockton is a snapshot of a bygone era of the NBA, where physicality ruled the court, and players didn’t shy away from contact. Today, we see fewer of these types of plays and more players who focus on finesse rather than toughness. The evolution of the game has left many to wonder whether the NBA has become too soft, but it’s undeniable that the league has changed, and that change has significantly impacted the style of play we see today.

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