(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
The NBA continues to grow and evolve and the talent base in the league has arguably never been better.
The game of basketball has truly become a global sport with several of the NBA’s current stars hailing from overseas.
Aside from the diversity in the players, the way teams play the sport has also changed drastically since the game’s inception.
For decades, basketball was dominated by big men who played with their backs to the basket in the post area.
That kind of old-school basketball has started to die out, though, as teams begin to embrace guard and wing play instead.
With the basketball in the hands of those players more, the types of shots that are being taken have also dramatically changed as illustrated by Kirk Goldsberry of ESPN.
Shot locations in the NBA have changed significantly from 2000 to 2023
Which game do you love more?
(via @kirkgoldsberry) pic.twitter.com/dYivkMLOTQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 25, 2023
It’s jarring to see just how many more shots are being attempted from beyond the 3-point line and how that has essentially eliminated the mid-range jump shot.
Gone are the days of superstar centers like Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan dominating the painted area and instead lies players like Stephen Curry lighting it up from distance.
As analytics have become more integrated in a team’s decision-making process, the emphasis has naturally shifted toward more shots at the rim and from the 3-point line.
These areas are the most efficient shots on the floor and the math dictates that teams should be doing their best to generate shots there.
The modern NBA might not be for everyone, but it’s safe to say that it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The post Graphic Shows How Shot Locations Have Changed In The NBA Since 2000 appeared first on The Cold Wire.