- Former NBA All-Star flames defense in the NBA
- Martin says it’s “unheard of” for so many guys to average 30 points per game
- Martin calls on the NBA to reinforce defense
Basketball has evolved a lot over time, and nothing besides the basics is the same as it used to be. For teams nowadays, that means adjusting to life under new conditions meant to strengthen opportunities to score.
For former league All-Star Kenyon Martin, that transition has been hard to watch for multiple reasons. “It’s hard for me to watch because there’s no resistance. How many guys averaged 30 this year? Like six, or seven guys? That’s unheard of man,” said Martin Sr. on the ‘Podcast P’ show. “Y’all can score, but not everybody is that dang good man.”
Officially, there were six guys who averaged over 30 points per game last season: Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum. That is pretty rare in the NBA, which is a sign that conditions favor the offensive players.
Surprisingly, Paul George actually agreed with the former Nets star here and admitted that things have changed for the worse. “When I first came into the league, you could be more physical. In ways, we benefit if it’s more entertaining. High game scores, bigger production out of players, but I think it’s more entertaining when the defense is implemented and you lot guys that can actually guard and you get to see that on display.”
“It’s tough to watch some nights.”
Kenyon Martin Jr & Sr break down player evolution with PG. 📈 pic.twitter.com/r8ZZF5NDOc
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 27, 2023
In even just the past few years, it’s become harder and harder for defenders to slow down their opponents and that seems to be how the NBA wants it. Although, for many fans, it’s just a huge turn-off that takes away from the excitement of the game.
Should The NBA Allow More Aggressive Gameplay?
The rise of Stephen Curry and his three-point revolution changed the game forever. Now, it’s at the point where teams are giving up their defense to double down on bigs who can stretch the floor and be a threat on the perimeter.
Regarding a response from the league, we’ve already seen a number of rules created to reinforce and protect the offensive player. In fact, Adam Silver said himself that he thought the NBA was far too physical back in the 90s, which is why he has gone out of his way to ban hand-checking and similar rules.
Whether or not that will change is anyone’s guess, but there are plenty of people who would love to see things change.
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