Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green had a rather startling assessment of the modern NBA on Saturday.
Green said he “absolutely” thinks modern NBA games are boring when asked about the topic at Saturday’s All-Star media session. The Warriors forward brought up comments made by Kobe Bryant before Bryant’s 2020 death, in which he referred to the current game as “accidental basketball.”
According to Green, unless he is facing someone like LeBron James who can actually make a calculated attempt to combat an opposing team, there is “no substance” to the modern game.
“Every possession is some type of chess move,” Green said of facing the Lakers, via Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “You don’t get that today in the NBA, often. … You don’t just get that on a regular basis. It’s just who can run faster, who can hit more 3s, it’s no substance. I think it’s very boring.”
The modern NBA leans heavily on three-point shooting and athleticism more than it does strategy. That has allowed certain teams and players to thrive, but it does not always make for great viewing. NBA ratings have been down this season, and some certainly believe the style of play is a key reason for that.
The big question is whether there is anything the NBA can do about it. They will not necessarily want to punish three-point shooters, but adding more strategy to the game is easier said than done. Tellingly, commissioner Adam Silver’s ideas, or at least the ones he has floated publicly, would not necessarily address the problem either.
Ironically, Green’s teammate Steph Curry helped herald in the new era of three-point shooting. Other teams have simply taken it to its logical conclusion, much to Green’s chagrin.
