The NBA isn’t what it used to be, which isn’t a knock on the league by any means.
Its significant evolution caught the attention of a former Los Angeles Lakers point guard, who recently compared it to another popular professional sport.
“When I kind of tap into more of [being] a basketball fan when I watch the NBA today, I sometimes compare it to [when] the WWE was WWF, World Wrestling Federation, and then it shifted to World Wrestling Entertainment,” Derek Fisher said on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast. “Again, not right or wrong because one could argue that the WWE is a more impactful sport than the WWF was, depending on what side of the conversation you’re on. I feel like all pro sports, to some degree, not just in the NBA– even in the NFL, you listen to guys that have played before and coached before. It’s a different game, and it’s not a negative thing. It’s just built more for the entertainment value maybe than the competitive value.”
"In previous generations, it was designed like a battle, a war. Gladiator, so to speak, and it doesn't mean the guys now aren't tough; they’re soft. I'm not saying that. I know that is said in some conversations, but that's not what I'm saying; it's definitely a different way for them to show up and compete."
Fisher, who played 18 seasons in the NBA and won five championships with the Lakers, used the WWF’s transition to the WWE to highlight a drastic change in the NBA.
During the “old school” NBA period, there was a large emphasis on playing a physical brand of basketball and bringing home titles. You probably didn't last long if you weren’t comfortable throwing your body around and adopting a winning mentality. At the very least, a negative reputation was attached to your name for the entirety of your career.
Nowadays, the league is all about infatuating viewers with riveting plays. Whether it’s wild three-point attempts from well beyond the arc, wicked isolation dribble moves on the perimeter, or mind-blowing finishes in the paint, the goal is to produce as many SportsCenter Top 10 worthy highlights as possible.
In summary, the old-school NBA is the WWF and the modern NBA is the WWE. Instead of bashing the league's current state, Fisher wisely pointed out that the NBA's main objective is no longer the same.
More NBA: Pistons signing former NC State standout ahead of training camp
