Thrilling three-pointers or powerful dunks? Physicality or controlled playing? With the NBA continuing to shift, fans and experts express mixed feelings about where it’s heading. In one such instance, a former NBA legend took a bold stance on the current state of the league, particularly holding the current commissioner Adam Silver accountable for what he sees as a decline in the quality of the game. A key player in the Chicago Bulls’ dominance in the 1990s, Scottie Pippen expressed his disappointment with the modern NBA in the PBD Podcast. 

The former Chicago Bulls’ small forward held nothing back when he contrasted the softness of basketball culture with the physicality and toughness that defined the game back in his time. Not just that, Pippen also pointed to the former NBA commissioner’s control and discipline and argued about what he believes has weakened the league’s structure.

“It’s pretty bad” Scottie Pippen criticizes Adam Silver

During the episode, the 6x NBA champion asserted that David Stern, former NBA commissioner ran the game with authority. He told the host, “I felt like David Stern era, he ran the game. I think the Adam Silver’s era, he’s less allowing the players to have some input in terms of how the rules of the game are changing.”

Like many, Pippen too argues this change led to a watered-down game, where defense and physicality took a backseat to offense. Responding to Patrick Bet-David’s question on whether the change is good or bad, the Bulls icon further added, “It looks like it’s pretty bad right now. But I think from the standpoint of players being healthy, those are some precautionary measures that they’ve taken in the game where the players don’t like to play back-to-back so I think it’s a lots of things.”

There is no doubt that many, including Shaquille O’Neal believe how the three-point shots are reducing the thrill of the game. However, just like Shaq, Pippen too seemed to like one team, the Golden State Warriors, because they know how to shoot. Of course, it is the Golden Boy Stephen Curry who affected the game through his deep shots from beyond the arc.

“I definitely feel like he three-point shot has turned fans away from the game because it’s just no team work in shooting a three-point shot. There’s no team work in coming down and taking a shot from behind the three-point line but there’s team work in coming down and execute a play. Everybody touches the ball and you get a bucket out of it. It’s something that drew fans, drew people to love the game, to love certain teams that played a certain way. I don’t think you see that in today’s game,” Pippen added.

Moreover, he contrasted this with the execution of a well-thought-out play, where the ball moves and everyone contributes to the scoring. “In today’s game, as we watch it, we don’t see that great team chemistry of a team that has been doing this and have longevity of success, so it makes it hard for you to lock in and like what you’re seeing.” As an example, he pointed to the Golden State Warriors as one of the few teams that showed this kind of teamwork. 

While sharing his thoughts on teamwork and leadership, Pippen reflected on when he was at the heart of one of the most successful teams. The Chicago Bulls. Under Stern’s leadership, the game had a sense of order and discipline that many fans still long for. Although the Bulls dominated the court during Pippen’s time, he credited Stern’s role in providing strong leadership and structure.

The Bulls’ former forward fondly recalled the days when players were expected to bring both skill and toughness to the court. The level of competition, he remarked, is something the NBA of today lacks. Pippen also spoke about how the new-age athletes lack the physical toughness that used to define players back in his Chicago Bulls era. In his eyes, the Bulls’ championship stemmed from both the former commissioner’s leadership and the team spirit. 

As shared on the episode, Scottie Pippen’s honest comments present a critique of today’s NBA structure. Needless to say, fans get a peek into the mind of one of the GOATs out there. More so, his unfiltered thoughts on David Stern and Adam Silver offer a fresh perspective to the league as we know it.

How Silver keeps the league fresh while respecting its roots

Adam Silver’s term as the NBA commissioner has been anything but silent. He’s the kind of leader who doesn’t shy away from communication. Take the debate about three-point shooting, for example. It’s no secret that many think the game has tilted too far into the long-range shots. Silver hasn’t just shrugged this off, either.

He openly addressed this concern and talked about tweaking the rules to bring some balance. In Wednesday’s edition of “The Herd,” he even floated the idea of rearranging the three-point line, saying, “We’re sort of going through a process now seeing how these players are adapting to the new rules and figuring out whatever changes we should make,” He also added to this thought, “Part of the concern from the basketball folks is that if you move the three point line back, you’ll end up sort of just clogging up, you know, the sort of the area under the basket, and that’s not such attractive basketball either.” Now, that’s not something you hear every day from a league commissioner!

What makes this more impressive is that it’s not just about the aesthetics. Silver understands how the game is played and how it affects the fans connected with it. By looking into ways to change offensive strategies, he seeks to make the NBA a more flexible league.

Think about it, if every move ends up with a 3-pointer, the magic of teamwork would be lost, wouldn’t it? Silver’s willing to consider these changes in a show that he’s listening to, not just to the fans, but to experts and legends, alike.

Then there’s his openness. The current commissioner of the NBA doesn’t brush off challenges. Whether it’s declining viewership or the impact of analysis on the game, he communicates publicly. That kind of transparency creates trust. Fans might not always see eye-to-eye with the league’s direction, but at least they feel a part of the conversation. While debates on gameplay carry on, Silver’s been securing the NBA’s financial future.

Case in point: the $76 billion media, 11-year deal. That’s not just good business, it’s a long bet on the league’s versatility in a world where streaming and digital media reign. This also secures the NBA’s relevancy, not just today, but for decades to come. Silver’s strategy might involve a more lenient structure than Stern’s, but he also respects the game’s roots while recognizing when to shake things up.

Considering rule changes and trying new game formats are not easy decisions, but they show a commissioner willing to take measured risks to keep the league from declining. In the end, Silver’s leadership style is about progress, not rebellion. He’s steering a tricky game, keeping fans happy while bringing in more audience and balancing it all. Sure, there are challenges (that’s what the game’s for!) but with Adam Silver in the lead, it feels like the league might be okay, after all.