So with that said...
What about the NBA game has changed over the last 30 years that would lead them to having better athletes?
Small ball? Big guys playing on the perimeter? That's not "better athletes", that's simply a strategic change in the game that has forced bigger guys to refine their perimeter skill. (and completely abandon the post skill that the older players spent so much time on)
Are NBA guys running faster today, jumping higher today, etc? Based on what? Are there numbers to support this? Or are yall just going by the eye test. (which is subjective and inaccurate)
And since the basketball world doesn't put a premium on athletic testing and explosive measurements like the football world does, why would one believe that they (the basketball world) are creating SIGNIFICANTLY better athletes? You're telling me it's pure evolution? Humans haven't changed that much (physically) since the 80's.
I assure you, if the basketball world put more of an emphasis on creating better/more explosive athletes these past 30 years, their guys wouldn't need 2 steps to register a pedestrian low/mid-30's vertical. Yes I'm aware that the vertical isn't the end-all-be-all of athleticism, but it is a good measure of raw explosiveness and athletic ability.
I mean, if you say NBA players are better athletes today you have to give reasons why. Attribute it to SOMETHING. It can't just be your eye test.
Well, the point guards are running faster and jumping higher. The fastest point guards of this era: Rondo, Wall, Chris Paul, Fox, Rose, Westbrook, etc. are faster than the guards of that era. I don't think it's even close in terms of athleticism. The guards have gotten way more athletic and way more skilled. Lining up the most athletic 25 point guards of 20-21 versus the most athletic 25 point guards of the 96-97 season wouldn't be close.
To answer your question, the training has gotten much, much better at the nba level and on top of that these guys all employ personal trainers now which they didn't do back in the day. The training the players get once they are on NBA rosters is better than ever. Like Tim Grover said, the training of 30 years can't compare to the training now. So we have a vastly deeper talent pool, more scouting, and better training - naturally there is a higher amount of great athletes. Spurs have 4 guys who get 40 inches on the vertical and had 0 twenty years ago.
You're right on the basketball world not putting emphasis on explosive training. The young players in basketball do not work on their flexibility and explosiveness enough from 12-21 like they do and football and those combine numbers suffer. But that's because they play and practice so much they don't focus on the lower body, core, and strength like football.
These kids are playing way more basketball than they used to. Derrick Rose and the other guys are measuring 40s with two steps, not low to mid 30s fwiw. That's their score without the steps. When these kids get to the NBA their flexibility, explosiveness and strength goes up tenfold, so the numbers we see don't them justice as well. The vertical jump really isn't a good test of measuring basketball athleticism at all. Pat Connaughton is one of the highest jumpers in the combine, but isn't that much of an explosive athlete.
I do not think the elite athletes of the this era are better than the elite athletes of that era. Shawn Kemp and Blake Griffin can go jump for jump. Kevin Johnson and Ja Morant can go jump for jump. What I've been saying for the last 10+ pages is the depth of athleticism goes way beyond what it was. That is due to a vastly expanded talent pool: 50m population increase in the U.S., Africa is now a mine for talent, Canada became a player, and increased popularity throughout the world. There are way more great athletes sitting the bench than of yesteryear. There are more great athletes in the NBA today than there were in the 90s across the board. That can be seen by going team by team. I don't think benches had as many guys like Lonnie Walker, Derrick Jones Jr., Terrence Ross, Brandon Clarke, etc. who are all great athletes. Andrew Wiggins is another supreme athlete.
It does not matter what data I present from today because that information from the past isn't readily available. Im searching for it though because that information exists. The NBA combine started in 1983 IIRC. I'd imagine that information would show that the results between those guys is similar to what the results are now.
I've been arguing the last couple days because D$ said the athletes today are worse, not equal.
From the '92 Combine - "In 1992, Shaq measured 71 without shoes, weighed 303 pounds, recorded a 35 inch vertical (who knows if is this is standing or 2 steps) and had his wingspan measured at 77. To put that in perspective, from the minute he entered the league and for the next 10 years - Source:
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/A-Historical-Look-at-the-NBA-Pre-Draft-Measurements-2912/ ©DraftExpress" All the old combine information is spread out across newspapers. If I find some good ones I'll post them
