Over the decades, the NBA has showcased a dynamic evolution of basketball styles, trends, and innovations. Let's take a trip down memory lane and ponder the future:
- The 60s & 70s: Russell and Wilt battling in the post. Kareem brought us the skyhook, arguably the most unguardable shot in history. The game was dominated by big men and a lot of post play.
- The 80s: Magic's Showtime Lakers and Bird's Celtics epitomized team basketball. The fast break was king and mid-range jumpers were more common. The first three-point contest took place in 1986, but it was not yet a primary weapon.
- The 90s: Enter the era of the shooting guards and small forwards. MJ, Kobe, and AI showcased a blend of athleticism, mid-range mastery, and killer instinct. The Dream Shake, MJ's fadeaway... footwork became an art.
- 2000s: The game becomes more international. Nowitzki's one-legged fade, the Spurs' team ball, and the rise of the Euro step. The game started to stretch as three-point shooting began its rise.
- 2010s: The Splash Brothers change the game. The deep three becomes a viable shot. Positionless basketball is born. Big men like Jokic and Embiid can now handle the ball and shoot from distance, while guards like Westbrook and Simmons can grab 10 boards a night.
- 2020s: ???
So here's the main question: What's next in the evolution of the NBA?
- Will we see a resurgence of dominant post play?
- Will the mid-range game make a big comeback?
- New defensive schemes to counter the three-point barrage?
- Or perhaps, the rise of a new type of player or playing style we haven't imagined yet?
That's because there were too many teams and not enough talent. The NBA went from 8 to 18 teams in less than a decade, along with the ABA starting up, which spread the playing pool too thinly. Also, drugs were starting to become a big problem and several talented players ended up crashing out of the league or wasting their talent. It's not really surprising that the league was on the verge of going under by the end of the decade.