In today’s fast-paced world where there is no time to stop, grabbing food on-the-go and getting same-day deliveries has become the new norm. Basketball is no different. The sport known for the physicality of players like Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan, admired for their height and aggressive nature, has taken a pivot to a completely different game. The game has evolved into a high-speed sport where deep three-point shots and flashy plays are typical, matching the quick speed of modern life.
The shift toward a less physical style has changed how the game is played and watched. Players have begun to favor finesse over physicality, showing a clear trade-off. To prioritize player safety, the league has introduced tighter rules on contact and a greater focus on keeping athletes healthy for longer careers. As a result, the game now includes more cautious plays and restrictions on rough contact. Varsity boys basketball player Rishi Bokkisam stresses the importance of these changes.
“The most important thing in basketball is not getting hurt,” Bokkisam said. “Decreasing things such as contact cause[s] less injuries, leading players to play for a longer period of time.”
This softer approach is not just about keeping players healthy. It’s a calculated move to make the game a more skill-oriented sport. Removing rules like the hand check, which happens when a defender initiates any contact with an offensive player with their hands or arms, has reshaped the game, pushing teams to rely more on speed, spacing and shooting over pure physical play. Many traditional fans feel that this style abandons the sport’s roots. For basketball fans like sophomore Eren Agsak, the high-scoring style is mesmerizing and makes the game more action-packed.
“I like the fast-paced [style] because there’s more action,” Agsak said. “I do wish it was a little more physical.”
Others argue that the shift in style has leveled the playing eld, allowing smaller, agile teams to compete with dominant teams that once depended solely on their strength. Undersized rosters can compete with bigger and more physically dominant teams because of speed, agility and chemistry.
“We’re pretty small, but our team chemistry is very important,” Bokkisam said. “It doesn’t really matter what size you are, and most of these guys have been playing together for four or five years.”
With less focus on scoring and defending, players with quick shooting abilities can make a much larger impact on their team. For one, modern NBA players like Stephen Curry have built their careers on the three-point shot.
In the 2015-2016 NBA season, Curry changed the approach to basketball. He made a record 402 three-point shots in a single season, breaking the previous record by a whopping 116 three-point shots made. From that season on, three-point shot attempts have skyrocketed.
According to Basketball Reference, the average number of three-point attempts per game in 1979 was just 2.8. In 2019, that number increased to 32, which amounted to an increase of over 1,000%.
While the three-point shot has made the game more accessible to people who are not as athletically gifted, Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Eric Schneider said it damages a player’s progression.
“[It’s] detrimental,” Schneider said. “Everybody goes out to the three-point line when they should be working on their [shooting] form.”
Though former players and coaches worry that the emphasis on shooting has shifted basketball from its traditional skills, Schneider still sees the basics of basketball at work.
“People are still setting screens to get each other open,” Schneider said. “I don’t think it’s all just about the ashy moves.”
Some feel that modern basketball leans more toward air than fundamentals, but core skills like dribbling, passing, rebounding and defense are still essential. Each generation brings something new to basketball. The 1980s emphasized teamwork and spacing on the court, while the 1990s were defined by intense physicality. Today’s game has shifted from the physical play of the past to the game of the future, focused on high-powered offense, speed and skill.
