Where does the myth of physical 90s NBA basketball come from?

[ScrantonBulls]

Obviously you had the Bad Boys Pistons in the late 80s who were infamous for hard fouls. The league changed the flagrant foul rules in 90-91 to remedy this.

When you watch 90s games in full, it isn't any more physical than what you see today. Especially when looking at the playoffs. Modern playoff games have so much contact in them.

A more physical era than the 90a was clearly the 2000s. The 2004 Pistons teams were so physical that the NBA had to implement rule changes to fix it. They manhandled their opponents. Shouldn't the 2000s be known as the physical era given that it was WAY more physical than the 90s?

Where did this myth of physical 90s basketball come from? Watching the games, it's just completely false. I was actually shocked at how little contact there was when watching those games. Is this just BS perpetuated by dumb/salty ex-players, then parroted by their nostalgic fans who hate anything new?

[jasonxxx102]

the gen Xers who are still living in the past watching MJ re-runs

[Ainosterhaspie]

The moments of intense physicality were highly emotionally charged. That sticks in our brains far more strongly than the normal plays. With the passage of time, those become what people remember as the unremarkable, normal moments fade.

[Big J]

Because the 90s didn’t have the Trae Young, Brunson type flopping that we see in today game.

[jasonxxx102]

Because the 90s didn’t have the Trae Young, Brunson type flopping that we see in today game.

you think players weren't flopping in the 90s? lol

[Big J]

Because the 90s didn’t have the Trae Young, Brunson type flopping that we see in today game.

you think players weren't flopping in the 90s? lol

No, not even close to the same level that it's happening now. Vlade was the only one that was really doing it back then.

[jasonxxx102]

Because the 90s didn’t have the Trae Young, Brunson type flopping that we see in today game.

you think players weren't flopping in the 90s? lol

No, not even close to the same level that it's happening now. Vlade was the only one that was really doing it back then.

there you go, you just answered the question lol

players were, people just don't remember them as distinctly. You can go back and find many such cases that just aren't fresh in everyone's minds

[Big J]

you think players weren't flopping in the 90s? lol

No, not even close to the same level that it's happening now. Vlade was the only one that was really doing it back then.

there you go, you just answered the question lol

players were, people just don't remember them as distinctly. You can go back and find many such cases that just aren't fresh in everyone's minds

Vlade was a nobody. None of the stars players were regularly flopping and exaggerating contact. You think that guys in the 90s had mastered flopping to the same degree as they have now?

[Billl]

If you look at league scoring by year, you'll see. The 80's pistons teams were undeniably physical, but they were an outlier. Teams didn't really start to copy that style until the late 80's and spilled over into the 90's. In the 89/90 season, teams were still scoring 107 ppg. By 98/99, scoring bottomed out at 91.6. They cut down on the flagrant fouls, but they just let guys be physical and push and hold all over the place. That continued into the 2000's and that 04 pistons team was only allowing 84 ppg. Ever since, the league has been pushing "freedom of movement" and really cut down on the constant bumping and grabbing. By the end of the 2000's, teams were back to scoring 100ppg. It really took off when teams started to realize that you could get a lot of open 3 looks off penetration with that "freedom of movement" .

[LockoutSeason]

Propping up MJs legacy requires a lot a revisionism.

[pipfan]

I think the Chi-NY series really left an impression. Those games were rough, and a TON of fun.

Some other rough play, but most of it was normal basketball

[JnewFTW]

MJ zealots.

[realball]

Teams played two big men at a time. Two players who were expected to block shots, defend the paint/post, set screens, score near the rim. Nowadays, teams usually have one of those players on the court at most. Back then, teams would have big men acting as enforcers, goons who would just be out there for their six fouls.

The game is more geared towards jump shots now, of course it has become less physical. Not complaining here, just stating facts.

[jasonxxx102]

No, not even close to the same level that it's happening now. Vlade was the only one that was really doing it back then.

there you go, you just answered the question lol

players were, people just don't remember them as distinctly. You can go back and find many such cases that just aren't fresh in everyone's minds

Vlade was a nobody. None of the stars players were regularly flopping and exaggerating contact. You think that guys in the 90s had mastered flopping to the same degree as they have now?

this whole thing is entirely subjective, how do you even measure what flop is worse than another one? lol

[bmurph128]

The answer is simple and obvious: Michael Jordan.

No athlete had ever achieved the fame that Jordan did. On top of that, you had the PERFECT amount of exposition - games were on TV, and there was some media coverage. Sportscenter was an actual thing back then and really came into its own as well. The shoes, the dream team, playing baseball and then coming back - we have never seen anything like that and likely never will again. But there was no social media, and while the internet was becoming a thing, it wasn't close to what it is today.

Jordan's peak level of fame coincided with the 90s and what came with it (the above) - other NBA players? They just benefitted from Jordan being around, and because we all associate Jordan with the 90s and he is unquestionably one of the greatest athletes to walk this planet, there is just a positive association a lot of us have.

The truth is....you can see how Reggie Miller was a good player, but what would he be in todays game? Honestly? Really be honest with yourself about that. I would have to go back and watch highlights of him, but I don't remember him being a great finisher at the rim. I remember him being incredible at coming off screens and being able to knock down jump shots, I remember him putting in serious effort on defense and being a competitor - so are we talking about a very slightly better version of Klay Thompson there? If we are being painfully honest, that could be the case.

Nothing against Reggie - he was ahead of his time back then. But...to me that is an example of how glorify the 90s.

[Profound23]

Same place "the myth" that the Earth is round came from.

[realball]

The answer is simple and obvious: Michael Jordan.

No athlete had ever achieved the fame that Jordan did. On top of that, you had the PERFECT amount of exposition - games were on TV, and there was some media coverage. Sportscenter was an actual thing back then and really came into its own as well. The shoes, the dream team, playing baseball and then coming back - we have never seen anything like that and likely never will again. But there was no social media, and while the internet was becoming a thing, it wasn't close to what it is today.

Jordan's peak level of fame coincided with the 90s and what came with it (the above) - other NBA players? They just benefitted from Jordan being around, and because we all associate Jordan with the 90s and he is unquestionably one of the greatest athletes to walk this planet, there is just a positive association a lot of us have.

The truth is....you can see how Reggie Miller was a good player, but what would he be in todays game? Honestly? Really be honest with yourself about that. I would have to go back and watch highlights of him, but I don't remember him being a great finisher at the rim. I remember him being incredible at coming off screens and being able to knock down jump shots, I remember him putting in serious effort on defense and being a competitor - so are we talking about a very slightly better version of Klay Thompson there? If we are being painfully honest, that could be the case.

Nothing against Reggie - he was ahead of his time back then. But...to me that is an example of how glorify the 90s.

Not sure what point you're making about Reggie... he was only a 5x All-Star and 3x All-NBA player. He wasn't considered a superstar in his own time, or even now. He's exactly like a Klay Thompson-level player, that's not an insult to either player. He's known for playing for one team his entire career, being very clutch, and setting the 3-pt record. All of that would have been true regardless of Jordan.

[bledredwine]

Another quality thread.
There is so much coping from Lebron fans lately.

It's OKAY... he's still an all time great.

And yes, the 90s were more physical, the lane was more packed and there
were less three pointers, nothing keeping bigs from camping near the rim to block perimeter players and way more action from big scorers than perimeter players. There's a green light for jacking up threes as well, which we haven't had in the 90s.

That's something that you'll have to deal with. It's ridiculous to think that we just fabricated this when
all of the players talk about it. Get annoyed all that you want, but the truth is the truth.

You'd be annoyed too if you saw the game get soft as charmin after cherishing the aggression and tenacity behind
quality defense instead of players just trying to avoid contact.

You'd also get annoyed if the commissioner purposefully created rules to make scoring accessible, stating so himself, and then
watched players get easy layups. It annoyed the hell out of me. Now, I just don't care to watch as often.

It annoys us because we used to love the game and it looks more like a mockery at times, like it or not.
That's our perspective. Once again- you can deal with it. That's the "myth"

[bstein14]

Because the 90s didn’t have the Trae Young, Brunson type flopping that we see in today game.

you think players weren't flopping in the 90s? lol

No, not even close to the same level that it's happening now. Vlade was the only one that was really doing it back then.

There was so much more off the ball physical contact that happened in the early 90s .... today players flop when they get bumped running across the lane or over exaggerate the contact. Also, so much more post up ball that allowed a ton more physical contact. Today you can't touch a shooter and early 90s you could have a forearm shoved into a player on the perimeter.

Watch on YouTube

[Capn'O]

90% Oakley.