In today’s NBA, the offensive elements of basketball are as dominant as they have ever been and changes to the league’s rules have only made it easier to score.
A trend of “baiting fouls” has spread across the league as well and has become a major part of the modern game.
Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have learned to take full advantage of the lenient officiating, consistently getting to the free-throw line and turning possessions into nearly automatic points.
Jalen Brunson has adopted a similar approach, drawing fouls at a high rate and putting constant pressure on referees.
“It feels like every time someone drives, you already know the whistle is coming,” said freshman Doron Allen. “Half of the time it doesn’t even look like a real foul.”
Another major change is the near disappearance of traveling violations. The rise of the “gather step” and the “euro step” have reshaped how players move with the ball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo helped popularize this style with his long strides and powerful drives, causing it to be used by players throughout the league. As a result, today’s game is more lateral and less vertical.
There are fewer high-flying dunkers compared to earlier eras, when stars like Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins regularly attacked the rim above the crowd.
Under current rules, the step before a player gathers the ball does not count towards the two allowed steps, making movements that look illegal to many fans technically legal.
What once would have been whistled as a travel years ago is now routine, leaving defenders with a lack of opportunities when the ball is driven to the basket.
Charging calls have also become increasingly rare. Offensive players are often allowed to lower their shoulders and drive directly into a defender’s chest, forcing them backwards and creating open space.
This leads to uncontested shots when defenders are knocked out of position. On drives to the basket, stronger players can simply overpower defenders without the fear of a charging foul being called
“If you tried that in a high school game, you’d get called for a charge every time,” said Junior Caleb Lebeau. “In the NBA, charges are now just put in highlight reels.”
As these leniencies continue, defense in the NBA becomes harder to play and easier to exploit, reinforcing a league-wide shift toward offense-first basketball.
