Today’s NBA isn’t as easy to play in as what most old-timers assume.
A conversation that many former NBA stars engage in is how the league has evolved and how they could potentially dominate in today’s games if they were still playing. It’s important to acknowledge their valid points, considering the changes in officiating and the increasing skill level of younger players.
However, they must understand that the greatness of their era doesn’t automatically translate to dominance in today’s game.
Former Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams recently spoke out about this topic, expressing his frustration with former stars who claim they could easily run the league if they played today. In a discussion on “Run It Back” with Chandler Parsons and Michelle Beadle, the latter asked LouWill if he would back Shaq’s recent claim that he would average 40 points a game in today’s NBA. Williams responded by saying he didn’t buy it.
The game has shifted
Shaquille O’Neal thrived in an era where the low block was the game’s sweet spot. Guards often just threw the ball down there and asked their big man to get a bucket. The NBA is all about spacing, three-point shooting, and quick lineups. It’s a fast-paced game that relies more on skill and athleticism than brute force. It’s these points that the former 17-year veteran tried to emphasize.
“I’m not buying that. I mean, Shaq played in today’s game, granted it was at the end of his career, but he was part of the game shifting to where it is today. Him averaging 40 points a game? I don’t know,” the native of Tennessee stated.
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While the legendary center would still get his, he also has to contend with quicker big men who now can shoot from long range—something he never had to do in his heyday.
“I see him having to guard a Karl-Anthony Towns at the three-point line. I see him having to deal with guys like Dirk and all these other players that create so many different challenges,” LouWill furthered.
Acceptance is the key
The NBA is playing a different game these days. Gone are the days of traditional big men dominating the paint and being the primary scoring option for their teams. Now, players like Shaq are considered relics of a bygone era, their style of play no longer deemed effective in today’s fast-paced and three-point-driven game ushered in by Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
“Nobody’s really throwing the ball in the paint anymore. They’re not throwing the ball on the block and just allowing a Shaq to go to work. Will Shaq be a dominant force in any era of basketball? Absolutely. But I think our OGs have to stop saying that they’ll just average 40 points a game off the whim,” Williams stressed.
Traditional big men still have a place in today’s NBA. However, their role isn’t as massive as it once was for the likes of Shaq, Patrick Ewing, and Karl Malone, to name a few of the best big men of the 80s and 90s. With the rise of versatile and athletic big men such as Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, the game has evolved, and it’s up to the incoming players to adapt, evolve, and run the risk of getting left behind.
