NBA legend Byron Scott criticized the current era of basketball, describing it as the “softest brand” of the game.
Scott’s comments reflect a sentiment often expressed by former players, highlighting a perceived lack of physicality and toughness in today’s NBA.
During an interview on All Fact No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson, Scott emphasized the differences in playing style and rules between eras.
He pointed out that in his era, players were accustomed to physical play and contact, whereas modern rules prioritize player safety and restrict physicality.
“They wouldn’t compete with us in our era,” Scott said. “Because you got to look at the rules too. This is the softest brand of basketball you can play right now. Impeding progress when you run across the lane.
“Back in our day, you go to the lane you getting hit. That was a rule in the NBA. You go in the lane you getting hit and everybody expected that. So today’s basketball, even like I said I enjoy the game, I’ve been watching all the playoff games and I’m just enjoying the excitement of the game, but when you compare eras, you got to also think about the rules in those eras as well.
“And if you’re going to have teams in the 2020s trying to play against teams in the 1990s, then you’re going to have to adjust the rules because it’s unfair for them to try to play our rules back in those days kind of like it almost unfair for us to play their rule because they’re much more athletic than we were back in those days.”
