LeBron James spoke up about the ongoing debate about the NBA’s evolving style of play, calling out high volume three point shooting.
LeBron James
LeBron James is obviously a basketball icon and more importantly a self-proclaimed historian of the sport. Recently, he shared his frustrations about the current state of the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers star, while addressing the media, discussed how the league’s gameplay has shifted toward an overwhelming reliance on three-point shooting.
According to LeBron James, the trend of teams across the league bombing threes has been indicative of a larger issue affecting the quality of basketball today. The context for his remarks comes from the ongoing debate about the NBA’s evolving style of play, including changes to the All-Star Game format. James believes these adjustments are only surface-level fixes for deeper issues plaguing the game.
It’s not just the All-Star Game. It’s our game in general. Our game, there’s a lot of f***ing 3s being shot. So it’s a bigger conversation than just the All-Star Game.
LeBron James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin
The NBA has introduced a four-team tournament structure to the latest edition of the All-Star game as part of ongoing changes to tackle the league’s falling viewership. In his comments, James hinted that he had some ideas to alter the competitive nature of the NBA’s All-Star game. However, he wasn’t part of the decision making process by the league.
James’ comments were meant to address a broader concern about the strategic homogenization of basketball. Teams average a record of nearly 38 three-point attempts per game this season. The Boston Celtics leading the charge at 51.3 attempts per game, while the Lakers rank lower in three-point volume, attempting 33.4 per game. James sees the trend as a symptom of a larger identity crisis in the NBA.
Adam Silver responds to LeBron James’ comments
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver weighed in on the issue during a media briefing for the second annual NBA Emirates Cup. Acknowledging the league’s stylistic evolution, Silver noted that discussions about gameplay diversity are ongoing within the league, especially following LeBron James’ public comments about the direction of the league’s style of play.
[We are having] many discussions about the style of basketball [being played]. I would not reduce it to a so-called 3-point shooting issue. I think we look more holistically at the skill level on the floor, the diversity of offense, the fan reception to the game, all of the above.
Adam Silver via ESPN
The rise of the three-point shot can be traced back to the Golden State Warriors’ dominance during the mid-2010s. Led by Stephen Curry, the Warriors demonstrated the transformative power of efficient long-range shooting. As other teams sought to replicate their success, the three-point shot became the cornerstone of modern basketball.
Adam Silver’s remarks were a nod to the league’s efforts to strike a balance between the evolution of the game and old school basketball. While acknowledging the concerns raised by players like LeBron James, Silver defended the modern game, praising the skill level of today’s athletes and the strategic nuances that accompany increased three-point shooting.
