20 Reasons Why the NBA Is Better Today Than It Ever Was

Image via Complex Original

With the influx of international talent and defensive rule changes, the NBA has become faster. Inferior defenders can no longer hand-check their way into a rotation, and physical fouls are no longer tolerated. Whether that's a good or bad thing, we can all agree that nobody wants to see games where teams can't score over 80 points. We want to see dunks, threes, and 100-point games. If you don't like it, blame Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash.

Some of you may say, "No way! Players used to actually dislike each other and have legit rivalries!" But we counter that with one question: Does La La Vazquez-Anthony actually taste like Honey Nut Cheerios? See, that's actually a question that was raised this season and one of the better storylines you'll ever follow.

You've got stories like that one along with the multitude of trade rumors legitimized by the trade machine, and ridiculous conspiracies regarding Stern and players joining forces. Fans really have a ton to choose from and with the blogosphere as popular as at is, it's not hard to follow.

To know that we will potentially usher in our first openly gay male on a major team sports athlete in Jason Collins is another reason why the NBA is better today than it ever was. Met with many positive comments and calls from players and coaches, Collins' announcement of his homosexuality has shown the world that the NBA is the most progressive pro league. Regardless of whether or not he actually plays next season, just knowing he will be accepted if brought into a locker room this summer is a great thing.

You may have laughed at the notion a couple of years ago, but the L.A. Clippers really have become a formidable challenge for supremacy against the fabled Lakers. Obviously the history isn't there yet, but two dudes by the name of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are doing their part to make people pay attention to the Staples Center floor when it's not painted purple and gold. We think the next few years will be extremely telling as far as who can make the claim for top dog in La La Land.

The same goes for the battle that's begun to brew in Gotham. The Nets signed some big names and opened their new home in Brooklyn this season, and immediately their rivalry with the Knicks has taken on a narrative of its own. Fans are taking sides, lines are being drawn, and entertainment is high. With the Celtics, Lakers, and Spurs on their way to rebuilding phases, these new rivalries are taking the league by storm and creating some very intriguing storylines.

If there's one professional sport in America that's actually been able to penetrate foreign markets, it's the NBA. If soccer is considered the, "global game," basketball has certainly done its part in the last couple of years to try and make that claim as well. NBA jersey sales have steadily risen over the years, with Kobe Bryant's being the No. 1 selling jersey internationally during the 2011-2012 season.

The 2012 NBA Finals were broadcast to the largest international audience in history, and by 2011 the number of foreign-born players in the NBA (98) had tripled in the previous two decades. Keep scheduling those games in London, Goodell, David Stern will just keep on laughing as he counts his loot.

The '80s and '90s were dominated by players who had a low-post presence and lived on the 15-foot-jumper. Maybe it was the fact that you could get away with much more on the defensive end at the perimeter, or just the way guys were coached coming up through college, but the three-ball wasn't nearly as formidable a weapon as it is in today's game.

The role of the three-point specialist has really emerged over the last decade or two, with guys being signed to contracts just for their long-range skills. Look no further than Steve Novak, Mike Miller, and the greatest, Ray Allen, for proof of the trend. Honestly, it makes for great entertainment. A team is never out of it if they have a guy who can rattle off three or four straight threes to swing a game.

Lets just give you some dates for this one: Kobe Bryant-1996, Kevin Garnett-1995, Tim Duncan-1997, Dirk Nowitzki-1998, Ray Allen-1996, Jason Kidd-1994, Paul Pierce-1998. Those are the years these guys started their NBA careers and all have made significant contributions to their teams this season.

Modern medicine, along with players having much better eating habits and better training techniques, have stretched out the primes and total career years for many NBA players. We'd be hard pressed to believe Kobe would still be as incredible as he was this year had he not had those distinct advantages from being a part of this generation. Who knows what could have been if say Larry Bird could have had better treatment for his back, or Patrick Ewing was able to recover from some of his injuries.

Jerry West and the letters 'NBA' have become as iconic as Coca-Cola from a marketing standpoint. There isn't a person on earth, unless you live under a rock, who doesn't know who LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are. These dudes have become household names from America to Australia and everywhere in between. And let's not forget about the various outreach projects the NBA conducts in Europe, Africa, etc. A rise in foreign-born players over the last few decades has done wonders to build the NBA as a brand as well.

Yes, more games equates to more money for the league. We don't doubt this had much to do with the decision to expand the first round from five to seven games. However, that doesn't mean that we, the fans, don't benefit from this as well. Come on, who doesn't want to watch more NBA playoff action? Yeah, exactly.

If a team is really that much better than their opponent then they should take them out relatively quickly regardless of the format. Although it isn't common, there have been eight teams in NBA history that have overcome 3-1 deficits. Seven-game series FTW.

While we're still trying to wipe away any remaining images from Kazaam since its released in '96, at least we don't have to worry about any new Shaquille O'Neal movies haunting our dreams. The worst we have to deal with now are his Buick commercials. Forty-five seconds versus an hour and a half? That's what we call a win. Shaq's acting career is less athletes attempt to star in movies nowadays and for that, we are grateful.

The inception of Inside the NBA and the meteoric analyst rise of the effervescent Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson gives this era the nod as far as analysts go, but it doesn't end there. Other key players in the analyst world like Jalen Rose and the Pardon the Interruption guys have given us honest takes with hints of comedy aimed at giving fans exactly what they want. There's just no comparison in terms of an entertainment value from NBA analysts today versus ones from the '90s.

You know that one guy that doesn't really follow basketball but swears that his team's seventh man is an All-Star because whenever he sees him, he kills it? That one guy is even less legitimate now. Advanced statistics in basketball have given everyone far more insight into just how important and impactful players are outside of the generic points/rebounds/assists/blocks/steals box score. Stats like player efficiency rating, usage rates, and clutch scoring have become common place in analysis and we're all more knowledgeable because of them.

Plenty of people hate on LeBron, D-Wade, and Chris Bosh for deciding to join forces in South Beach. What they seem to fail to realize is that the move, along with others like it, have made the NBA so much better. The idea of a Big Three isn't actually new, but it was revitalized by Miami, has generated genuine interest in the league, and has caused many teams to attempt the same.

Despite no other team having a comparable "Big Three," franchises like the Knicks, Lakers, Clippers, and Brooklyn have made attempts to do the same. There's no way the NBA would be as popular or interesting as it is now without teams trying to compete with Miami.

Entertainment doesn't stop after the fourth quarter anymore, guys. Our favorite NBA players not only want to be pillars of their sport, they also want to be fashion icons. But with risk taking comes more opportunities to fail horribly, and it's just been more blog ammo for us all to laugh at.

Some may argue that there was better top-tier talent in the '80s and '90s, but no one can dispute the fact that players in today's game are more skilled. Just think, it's practically a prerequisite for any starting power forward or center to be able to step out and make a 15-20 footer. We have guys 6-foot-8 or 6-foot-9 that regularly handle the rock like a point guard, and there are marvels like LeBron and Kobe that can do it all. In today's game, All-Stars have much more multifaceted games that allow them to dominate in more diverse ways than we've seen in the past. Advantage: new school.

Yes, professional athletes make an ungodly amount of money, and shoe deals in the NBA in particular are more lucrative now than ever. But what about all the stories we hear about athletes going broke after their playing days? We’re not suggesting anyone should be shedding tears for professional athletes who couldn’t manage their money, but in today’s NBA, athletes are not only more knowledgeable about how to manage their money, they’re using their salaries and endorsement deals in order to create opportunities for themselves and the community.

A sponsor like adidas will go into an at-risk neighborhood and give away free gear, or host a basketball clinic using a star like D. Rose to create awareness and generate publicity. Bottom line is stars are going to make a lot of money, if they can better themselves and people around them while doing so, the entire basketball community thrives as a result.

You always have to applaud any league or entity trying to make themselves better by installing checks and balances. The NBA implementing the instant replay system back in 2002 was just that. Gone are the days of a questionable last-second shot going the wrong way, or a deflection on a deciding play getting missed without refs taking a second look. It's not fool proof, but it's a great tool to show that the NBA is willing to better itself.

Twitter has completely changed how celebrities interact with their fans and haters, and NBA players are prime examples for just how incredible it can be. Many of our favorite players have Twitter accounts where they inevitably vent, talk to groupies, show off their comedic chops, and, in many cases, let the world know how they feel about current events.

Social media has given players their own voice and encourages open and honest communication between the players and their fans on a level unseen in the past. Can you imagine how many reckless tweets would have been sent out by Charles Barkley if he was a 23-year-old playing today?

Let's be honest, the creation of Youtube and GIFs has magnified the way we breakdown the craziest dunks, nastiest crossovers, and last second game-winners. It almost immortalizes the play, to be watched again, and again, and again. Just imagine the days where you only got to see a ridiculous Jordan dunk a handful of times, either live or on SportsCenter. Youtube and GIFs have no doubt helped the game grow internationally as well. Oh the joys of watching Eddy Curry going H.A.M. in China.

This generation's Michael Jordan. Yeah, we said it. LeBron may not have the rings yet, but he's becoming just as popular as MJ was. James has single-handedly changed today's game, and has seemingly lived up to the insurmountable hype he had out of high school. He's charismatic, has athletic gifts that we've never seen before on someone his size, and he's been as big a talking point in sports media as we may have ever seen.

Kevin “The Durantula” Durant is truly one of the most unique players the NBA has ever seen. In his short time in the league Durant has racked up accolades like the 2008 Rookie of the Year, four All-Star appearances, and three scoring titles. No one with his body type has really played the game like this before. KD is tall and lanky with a pretty shooting stroke, plus he’s also surprisingly physical when it comes to taking on opponents and driving the lane. He’s become a charismatic figure in his own right.

In short, he’s a new-school player in an old-school body, and that makes for one hell of a player to watch compete on a nightly basis. Not to mention that both of guys are upstanding citizens and are great ambassadors for the league.