The NBA now and then

Other than the trademark short shorts of the 70’s and 80’s, the game of basketball has drastically changed over time. Even the high-flying, basketball pro, Michael Jordan acknowledged that today’s game is not what it used to be, paying homage to areas that surpassed, but also the areas that, he believed, worsened. Many embrace these new changes, however, there are still many who believe that the NBA is slowly withering away and losing its edge; which will you be?

Before we plunge into the vast world of basketball, you need to understand where, and how America’s beloved sport began! The first official game of basketball was played in a cramped YMCA gymnasium in Albany, New York on January 20, 1892, but the concept was conceived in a small gym, back in 1891. A Canadian sports coach named James Naismith was in desperate search of a new sport to keep his gym active during rainy days, when he decided to nail a peach basket to his elevated track and write the basic rules for the game, however, he never knew that his new and simple pastime would soon rise to become one of the most highly regarded sports in America.

The same basic principles of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s still remain in today’s game of basketball, a game is 48 minutes, only 5 players from each team, no fouling is allowed, and so forth. So you may be asking, “How can basketball possibly have changed while still following fixed regulations? The answer is quite simple, present day basketball is revolving around faster and bigger guards, outside scoring and more fast paced offensive schemes, and of course, the renowned three point shot. This is why you might see tall, hulking, giants like LeBron James and Kevin Durant playing the small forward position. On first look, they...

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... stop Jordan, who actually possessed the incredible ability to leap over taller defenders and bring shame to those who believed a guard’s job was to just dump the rock into the post for the taller players.

In conclusion, I don’t think it’s fair to say basketball was superior before now, nor vice versa. I think that for those who love the game, you can appreciate what both eras bring to the table. While it may have been entertaining to see Dr Jay and Michael Jordan in action, it’s also important to realize the potential in today’s rising stars such as LeBron James, and KD. One thing that remains unchanged is that basketball has, and will always be an outstanding and fun sport to watch.

Works Cited

http://www.sbnation.com/2014/3/25/5542838/nba-rules-changes-lebron-james-michael-jordan

http://collegespun.com/features/25-reasons-why-the-nba-was-better-in-the-1990s