The NBA has a lack of stars problem AND all teams playing the same way problem

[Wardell Curry]

I don’t want to get into arguments about definitions. When I say star I mean can you ask a non basketball fan “who do you know that plays in the NBA?” and they’ll give you someone’s name.

Most people would say LeBron, fewer would say Steph and after that is there anyone?

At this point I’m a casual fan as are most of you and I just can’t find myself caring about the outcome of the playoffs once LeBron and Steph went out.

Further, every team in the NBA plays the exact same brand of basketball now. They aren’t all equally as good at it obviously but they all just spam 3s and you have one or two guys that attack the basket and score or kick. Its boring.

Do I have legit observations or am I just now an old bastard? Maybe both?

[Full Court]

I asked 8 random people on the street if they could name 1 NBA player. 8 of them said Rudy Gobert, and 2 of them said Jayson Tatum.


Seriously though, we all know the NBA doesn't have any superstars in the wings right now. One will come though.

[Phoenix]

The biggest 'mainstream' stars are on their last legs, that being Lebron and Steph. It may depend on the age of who you ask too. You may get more under 20s naming Giannis or ANT, but I suspect Lebron and Steph will definitely be the names most people mention and that's not good for the league as far as mainstream/casual interest going forward. By this point, someone should have definitely stepped into that role by now but there's no clear-cut guy even if there is clear separation at the top of the league from the next set of guys, they're just passing the baton around.I will say though, if you go back to Russell and Wilt, Magic and Bird......Lebron and Kobe then Bron and Steph, there was always a 'duo' that captured the national spotlight. In the 90s it was basically MJ and everyone else, he didn't have that singular guy running alongside with him. I have no idea who those 'two guys' are gonna be for the next decade as of now.

[tpols]

Yea the excitement value from superstars is at an all time low. There were guys back then that had freaky talent that as a fan would make you almost shake your head. Like when you watch Shaq play. Or Kobe Tmac Vince Carter Lebron Wade attacking the rim. Even boring types like Tim Duncan had more charisma than today's stars.

SGA is midrange Tatum. Tatum is Tatum. Jokic is boring (as media personality). Luka is fat and spoiled. Giannis is... I guess the most exicting because of some the things he can do but his skill lacks. Its just a boring ass crop of MVP level players.

[Hey Yo]

I asked 8 random people on the street if they could name 1 NBA player. 8 of them said Rudy Gobert, and 2 of them said Jayson Tatum

8+2=8 :lol

[Baller234]

Yea the excitement value from superstars is at an all time low. There were guys back then that had freaky talent that as a fan would make you almost shake your head. Like when you watch Shaq play. Or Kobe Tmac Vince Carter Lebron Wade attacking the rim. Even boring types like Tim Duncan had more charisma than today's stars.

SGA is midrange Tatum. Tatum is Tatum. Jokic is boring (as media personality). Luka is fat and spoiled. Giannis is... I guess the most exicting because of some the things he can do but his skill lacks. Its just a boring ass crop of MVP level players.

Personality is definitely part of it.

A lot of these gen-Z players come off like socially awkward introverts. Then you have the other half who's ignorant as fukk and were raised on social media and ratchet hip-hop and can't put two sentences together.

Every member of the 92 dream team could give you an authentic, coherent interview without it feeling like they were playing a character. They just came off as real guys who were likable and humble.

And they actually gave a fukk about the all-star game.

[Wally450]

8+2=8 :lol

:lol

[3ba11]

It's because the best American player is Ant, while it used to be MJ, Shaq, Robinson, Barkley, etc - dozens of Americans better than Ant.

And the international players are boring - the NBA needs its Conor McGregor

[ArbitraryWater]

Agreed but what was the problem with the Shogun account?!

[Full Court]

8+2=8 :lol

Two of them named two players. This isn't rocket science. :lol


:biggums:

[Axe]

8+2=8 :lol
:roll: (https://i.ibb.co/SxWM8PC/IMG-20230805-073843.jpg)

[FKAri]

Two of them named two players. This isn't rocket science. :lol


:biggums:

But you only asked them to name "a" player? But if you did ask them to name multiple, you're telling me 8 out of 10 people could only name a single NBA player and it's Rudy Gobert? A guy who isn't the face of his team, has 0 ads, no shoes, no media presence, is an international player who isn't even the biggest name from his country currently or all-time? Bizarre.

[SouBeachTalents]

But you only asked them to name "a" player? But if you did ask them to name multiple, you're telling me 8 out of 10 people could only name a single NBA player and it's Rudy Gobert? A guy who isn't the face of his team, has 0 ads, no shoes, no media presence, is an international player who isn't even the biggest name from his country currently or all-time? Bizarre.
Unless it's the people Xiao keeps imprisoned in his basement, I'd find that hard to believe.

[90sgoat]

As a european there's still a lot to root for, but for americans it must feel boring.

[ArbitraryWater]

8+2=8 :lol

:roll:


Full Court just does it to himself man.


1987 gotta see this

[GOBB]

“We don’t care about the 90’s doe”

Hilarious how an era that’s was more skilled. Better players (tradesmen are working trades and not playing in the NBA!). And here we are. Ha!

But nah how doesn’t anyone not love how OKC plays? Casual fans suck. Team doesn’t jack 3’s like majority of the league. Play got damn good defense. Some of the best I’ve seen as a team. Even if they take advantage of low iq teams, teams that don’t take advantage of them. Still giving them credit. If SGA grew up in Virginia and had a personality, an aura about him? He’d be…Iverson! Just kidding but kinda not. Lack of personality is what’s making it tough for these top of the crop players from capturing casual fans interest. Anthony Edwards has that “it” factor. But he bombed making it to the finals. And he’s made some remarks not wanting to be the face of the lg that dimmed his light imo.

A shift will take place tho. And what we are complaining about will be resolved. SGA making it cool again to shoot midranges is awesome. If a wave can come from that. Then maybe nba teams will actually implement schemes and strategies. Everyone playing the same way is old. Even my sixers annoy me with switch everything defense. These playoffs exposed some great comebacks but also revealed BAD BASKETBALL. No excuse for it honestly. For all these “skilled” players they don’t know how to play the game.

Side note: it’s not all doom and gloom there is good ball displayed. Just not enough across the league.

But I never played in the NBA so what do I know. That’s what Kevin Durant would tell me.


Agreed but what was the problem with the Shogun account?!

No shot that’s Shogun. No way.

[highwhey]

8+2=8 :lol

:yaohappy:

[sdot_thadon]

My 2 cents on it is yeah playstyles have become a bit redundant, I mean we still have teams that play certain styles of ball but the statistical era has everyone painting by the numbers literally. But thats not the biggest reason IMHO. We have to as fans update our views, its 2025 and society is drastically different overall from past eras. We cant have "stars" anymore in the way we used to. Everyone has too much access and post too much, too many podcasts 24 hour news cycles and so forth. Theres no mystique to any player like Mj per say who managed to be in a camera lens at all times without really giving much of himself away. Its helped his legend endure tremendously but its no longer possible in this era. I think guys are now measured by their income or social media presence more than "star power" when Lebron and Steph are gone the NBA will undergo a shift and it will take time but another name will rise above the rest. But dont hold your breath for him to be like the ones before him.

[game3524]

The players lack on court charisma. NBA basketball is entertainment first and formost and none of the current new stars are really must see TV. The stars from the 90s, 00s, and 10s all share that quality even if the game was different in each era. But now, who is the under 30 star that people will go see?

[rmt]

To me, it's the lack of continuity and as a result, rivalries. The same teams need to be in the Finals or win for the casual fan to know "names". There is a lull after known names like LBJ and Curry are not capable of making Finals/winning. Compounding this is - no team has repeated in so long but isn't that what the CBA is about - parity?

Tennis is also facing similar problem - the Big 3 of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic won for SO long, that casual fans don't know the players coming up behind them (but they've also got to fight the loss to the popularity of pickleball).

[Baller234]

f SGA grew up in Virginia and had a personality, an aura about him? He’d be…Iverson! Just kidding but kinda not. Lack of personality is what’s making it tough for these top of the crop players from capturing casual fans interest

Speaking of things that turn people off and ruin casual interest...

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNcu4K21BkLLrnJ4KKRoXCCVPG5iKY8 7kn9Q&s

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3D4jsqjFSX_LIlANra0qCKmDiGSKPb fBPWA&s

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/12/22/84772633-13410015-image-a-32_1715549178711.jpg

https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1600,h_900,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1200,ar_1:1,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/si-temp/01hwh5xbv35xrrk86q24.jpg

https://hot-town-images.s3.amazonaws.com/kwtv/production/2025/May/19/sga-and-jdub.1747694064292.jpeg

[gengiskhan]

this is what you wanted......
this is what you dreamed of....

you wanted and demanded RANK AND FILE athletes...
You begged for maximum no of 3 pt shots per quarter...

You hated on GOAT.
You laughed at his tongue wagging.
You despised his "once in a century" athleticism.
You loathed his ultra-competitive mindset.
You even blamed him for his dad's killing.
You elevated, a fake, wannabe, cheap immitating rapist over GOAT.

Now you shall reap what you saw all these decades