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[Saba Sports News] Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, two of the most prolific offensive players in NBA history, have expressed concern about the current state of the game, particularly the reliance on three-point shooting.
Speaking on their podcast, the duo critiqued the developmental mindset of players and their trainers, arguing that the overemphasis on long-range shooting is stifling creativity and basketball IQ.
“Does anybody work on their game or moves anymore?” Pierce questioned. “You get with these trainers, and everything is about shooting threes. Every move is designed to set up a three-point shot. I don’t see the art of go-to moves anymore.”
Garnett echoed these sentiments, calling out the lack of structured scoring development in the modern game. “A lot of these trainers I’ve met haven’t even played real basketball, let alone in the NBA,” Garnett said.
“Great scorers from the past had a method to their game. It wasn’t just about jacking up threes—it was about getting to your spots and scoring in different ways. The goal is still to get to the basket and score efficiently.”
Garnett also reflected on the teachings of legends like Michael Jordan, who mastered midrange and post-up scoring. “Mike was a mathematician on the court. He had spots where he knew he could hit consistently—15-footers from the free-throw line corners, shots from the block. That’s the evolution of scoring we’re missing today.”
Garnett and Pierce are not entirely against three-point shooting but argue that the modern obsession with it has come at the expense of offensive versatility. Instead of adapting to defensive schemes or exploiting midrange opportunities, many players automatically resort to deep-range attempts. This, they argue, limits strategic playmaking and situational awareness.
While analytics often support the efficiency of three-point-heavy offenses, historical scoring data suggests otherwise. Of the top 20 highest-scoring teams in NBA history, only three—2023-24 Pacers, 2024-25 Cavaliers, and 2024-25 Grizzlies—are from the modern three-point era.
Traditional, layup-oriented teams from past decades consistently scored higher, despite facing more stringent offensive rules and tougher defenses.
The discussion raises an interesting question: should teams de-emphasize three-point shooting to foster more dynamic and efficient scoring? While the three-point shot aligns with modern NBA rules and spacing, it’s also leading to less exciting basketball with lower scoring efficiency.
Garnett and Pierce argue for a balanced approach, advocating for the revival of foundational scoring techniques alongside three-point strategies to make the game more engaging and versatile.