Thank you. A ballboy putting things in perspective.
This whole idea that NBA players didn't fraternize in the past, is just like those "when I was your age, I had to walk to school, uphill both ways, in the snow etc." stories. It did happen, you just forgot about it, and are now romanticizing the past.
And really, people hugging and recognizing each other before the game is how you're justifying this era being softer than others? Maybe these players realized they are all brothers, part of a fraternity - ie, the NBAPA. They're not at war with each other. They've understood that this is a GAME. Maybe they realized that punching each other and hurting their hands, isn't the best way to earn the biggest contract and/or support their families.
Players trying to form superteams today is somehow bad? At least they have control over their own destinies. At least there's a cap, and restrictions in place now. Remember the 60s? Players didn't need to form superteams because there was one superteam that dominated the entire decade. So if that happened today, I guess you would want players to just lay down, one star on each team, not bothering to compete against the Celtics wich 4-5 HOFers?
There have ALWAYS been superteams. Now, players, ie people, have the choice to choose their own team and destiny, and that's somehow soft? As opposed to owners having all the power and dynasties being formed where the other players in the league had no choice. Yeah, that's so much better.
