Let’s talk NBA.
If you’re like me, you might enjoy the occasional NBA game, or know the notable players based off of Instagram reels that infiltrate your feed, but might not consider yourself an aficionado. The NBA is approaching the halfway mark of the ’23-’24 season, so if you want to get involved in the last half, here are things you need to know to get caught up.
- Scoring is at an all-time high
Or should I say, layups are out, three pointers are in.
Historically, gameplay was much more of a give-and-take. There was an emphasis on both intentionally playing offense and defense, but now we are seeing a greater decline in intentional defense, which makes sense, from a profitability standpoint. Scoring sells and fans don’t want to watch a defense-heavy game. Because of this, there has been a surge in three-point shooting, rather than trying to drive through the paint and take a shot through the post. There has been a change in playing styles and strategies, leading to this increase in three-pointers and faster game play by focusing on offense more than defense. There could also be contributing factors such as rule changes or adjustments in officiating, which might have an impact on the point average as well. As the game continues to change and improve, so do the capabilities of the athletes playing with help from new training and conditioning techniques that contribute to the level and skill among the current players. Most likely it is a combination of these and other factors that could contribute to the high-scoring nature of NBA games this season. The most important thing to note: this is not your granddad’s NBA.
- Names to watch out for
This season there have been a lot of outstanding performances so it is hard to name a few. Here are some names to watch for.
Joel Embiid
He is a 7’0″ center for the Philadelphia 76ers and technically has the highest points per game (ppg) average with 35.3, but was taken out of the running because of an injury. He’s been a star player recently, winning 2023’s MVP and All-NBA first team. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury back in January and hasn’t been able to play since, as he just underwent knee surgery — he’s slated to return to play some time in March or early April.
Luka Doncic
Doncic is a 6’7” point guard for the Dallas Mavericks. He is an all-round menace on the court. Because of Joel Embiid’s injury, Doncic is in the number one spot for points per game average at 34.2. He is an incredibly versatile player with a high basketball IQ. He can sink a shot from almost anywhere on the court, which makes him an all-around threat.
Steph Curry
He is a household name at this point and for good reason. Curry is a 6’2″ point guard and three-point legend. He is an absolute beast on the court and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Lebron James
It’s Lebron James. He is still Lebron James. Enough said.
Victor Wembanyama
If you haven’t seen much from the NBA this year, I am sure that you have still seen an Instagram reel or tweet about Wembanyama. He is a 7’4” rookie for the San Antonio Spurs. He has gained a lot of attention for his incredible wing span and ability to effortlessly dunk over his opponents. He is also having an incredible defensive season.
Damian Lillard
Lillard is a 6’2” Point guard who was recently traded from the Portland Trail Blazers (which are not so hot this season) to the Milwaukee Bucks. This trade is important, because he has spent his previous 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers. Lillard is still a star in the NBA and has made seven all-star teams. He now plays alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ 6’11” star power forward (and leader). These two will be a force to be reckoned with. Milwaukee is currently third in the Eastern Conference and it is no doubt due to the diet Kobe and Shaq duo of Lillard and Antetokounmpo.
- Year of the Big Man
Speaking of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the season so far seems to be the year of the Big Man. In basketball, the term ‘Big Man’ typically refers to a player who plays in the front court and is usually a combination of size and strength. These players are often the tallest on the team and play close to the basket. Traditionally big men were primarily centers or power forwards.
Notable big men this season are Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks) and last, but not least, rookie Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs).
As the game of basketball evolves, so do the players. Traditionally, players had very specific jobs, used to run particular plays. The new trend in basketball is equipping players to be competent in any position on the court and play off of actions rather than set plays. Someone can learn how to shoot from the three-point line, learn ball-handling skills and learn to read the defense, but you can not learn to be tall. Physical dominance on the court is something you can not simply teach a player to do. But the big men this season are learning to be well-versed in other positions than the power forward or center that they traditionally play.
This will change the expectations of players and how the NBA will be played in the future. We may begin to see physically larger teams, and coaches will scout well-rounded players who can shoot, drive, and post up.
- History made with the All-Star Weekend three-point contest
The NBA All-Star Weekend is held every February during the middle of the NBA regular season. There are a variety of activities that happen over the weekend including basketball events, exhibitions and performances. They also have an All-Star game, featuring East vs. West and a starting lineup for each ‘team’ chosen by a combination of fan, player and media voting. While the All-Star game is what most fans come for, the spotlight was stolen this year by Steph Curry and Sabrina lonescu, who went head to head in the annual three-point contest.
Steph Curry is a two-time champion of the three-point contest winning in both 2015 and 2021. He also holds the NBA record for most career three points with a whopping 3,642.
Sabrina Ionescu is a 5’11” guard from the New York Liberty of the WNBA. Like Curry, she is a sharpshooter. Ionescu is the first player in WNBA history to record over 500 Points, over 200 rebounds and over 200 assists in a single season. She also made the All-Star team in 2022 and set the record for most three-pointers in a single season with 128.
Back in 2023, during last season’s All-Star three-point contest, Ionescu scored 37 out of the possible 40 three-pointers which broke the WNBA and the NBA’s all-time record. She competed from the WNBA’s three-point line (which is about a foot and a half shorter) and with WNBA basketballs (which are slightly smaller and lighter). After this game, Ionescu took the opportunity to challenge Curry to a shoot-off the following year. In January, Curry accepted the challenge from Ionescu and they were set to compete at the 2024 All-Star weekend.
Ionescu received some backlash from viewers criticizing her abilities because she had previously competed with the WNBA criteria, saying she would not perform well to compete from the NBA standards. She responded to the comments by saying that she is confident in her ability and will be competing at the NBA three-point line.
Ultimately, Curry took the dub with a total of 29 while Ionescu followed closely behind with a final score of 26. Although Ionescu lost, she made history by being the first female to compete in the NBA three-point competition and hold her own from the NBA three-point line. She also showed that women might not be able to compete with men physically, but they can belong on the court when comparing skill.
This season has been full of amazing stories, new strategies and edge-of-your-seat gameplay, and I am sure there will be more to come. That is one of the beauties of basketball: its unpredictability. Although the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves lead in their conferences right now, there is no promise they will be there at the end of the season. You do not have to be an expert to enjoy a game of basketball, and it’s never too late to get involved. There is a promising season ahead. What better time to get in on the action?
