Basketball History, but it gets MORE BARBARIC

[@jonnyarnett]

Which era had the best level of physicality?

[@celtics17banners84]

80s. Not even close

[@alexkimani378]

80s bro

[@fortnitejake850]

80s was too much. Ain’t no one wanna see they’re favorite player get hurt. 2000s for me

[@scottfrench7466]

I was hoping you would go way back to the Mayans' sport of pok-a-tok where the penalty for losing was sometimes death

[@jonnyarnett]

@scottfrench7466 Guess I'll have to do it next time I make one of these types of videos. lol

[@McGomezAddams]

Wilt Chamberlain to Bill Russell: "I challenge you to Hell in the Cell!"

[@averyce2]

I'm 52 and lived long enough to witness 70's - today. The 90's had the best mix of physicality and skills

[@NickPR87]

People easily and conveniently forget about the defensive 3 seconds rule being a fairly novel addition to the game. Which makes MJ dunking on entire teams even more impressive! We see big men over exaggerate nowadays and leave the paint completely open, which gives a free lane for all these wide open dunks

[@lukekiefer5964]

On the flip side, you couldn’t play zone defense during Mike’s time, so it’s hard to say if one rule change really balanced out the inability to play zone.

[@alchemist_one]

All you have to do is look at the dramatic changes in points per game, @@lukekiefer5964

[@rickb9327]

Isn't it silly to see people's reactions to wide open dunks as if it's a great basketball play? It's not a great play...unless you're spud webb.

[@d.columbia9603]

​@lukekiefer5964 zone defense was still played it just could be called. Mjs bulls often ran zone defense along with hand checking and bigs camping.

[@alphadjalo1227]

@@SugarleeGaminginit like this is getting out of hand coming from an mj fan they act like he’s the only one in that era.

[@mathiaspereira5327]

I know this is mostly a history of basketball channel but I love hearing your thoughts and opinions on the modern NBA also. It's refreshing watching someone praise the old era and the new era of the game

[@jonnyarnett]

For sure! I appreciate that. I'll definitely put more attention on modern stuff when the season starts. Can't wait for it!

[@ck_idgaf1680]

Am 6-2, I played in the 80's and 90's. Going to the hole was tough, once you got passed the hand checking, you had to deal with the center just planted in the lane and fear of being knocked out of the sky or undercut. You had to be acrobatic, crafty, and/or shifty. Also great job on the research, majority of these fans today have no idea of the very early cage days.

[@Nihilus_Outis]

It would be fascinating if a series of exhibition games are held with the original rules, style, and environment (cages and all). A short summer tournament would be awesome. Call it... the Naismith Kumite.

[@kevintalley1158]

basketball is 1891 was wild 😂😂😭

[@Psiros]

JA Voice: ...and if you think the Cagers we rough, there was a version of what you might call basketball played by the Aztecs. You really don't want to know what happened to the losing team.

[@johnnelsongalvan3941]

If those cages were still around back in early 2000's. Malice in the Palace would not take place and possibly the Pacers have atleast 1 championship by now. 😂

[@slimypickle19]

NBA had it right in the 90s. It may not be the most efficient brand of basketball, but it was the most entertaining era by far & don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[@sirbradfordofhousejones]

I liked the 80s more- higher scoring, more physical, more free-flowing. But both were great eras. I just take exception to the “don’t let people tell you otherwise,” as if any other opinion is without substance.

[@JamesonScalia]

Your skills, intelligence, and editing are top notch. I can see you evolving into even richer content in the future, such as history and geopolitcs. Sky is the limit for you Jonny.

[@SoggySlopster]

The fact that centers could sit and guard the paint without having to move after 3 seconds alone makes the 80s and 90s a tougher era. Back then all the rules benefited the defense and now everything benefits the offense at the expense of defense. That’s why it seems so soft now. It’s not the players’ fault, they simply just don’t have any freedom on defense.

[@therealdannymullen]

Literally fucking SHAQ played then. The most unstoppable offensive force (maybe MJ or Wilt (although Wilt WAS stopped many times) get some consideration.))

[@Xenon-cb5re]

....No one ever stopped Wilt if he didn't want to be stopped. He held back because he was afraid of breaking bones of the opposing player. You have no idea what you're talking about... he would have eaten Shaq for breakfast. @@therealdannymullen

[@joonpak]

This gets lost in history but In the 40s, they used to fight on the court and the winner would get three points. This was the motivation to add the three point line decades later.

[@alex4833]

Oh man, I remember reading about the cagers a long time ago, but it definitely still amazes me. Those were some brutal days. Great video, Jonny. Good question at the end too. I guess I prefer the game to be more like the 1990s. Have a great day 😊

[@cadecrusader]

Thank you Jonny! You keep uploading these videos hit after hit!

[@generaldiscernment]

On the 100th anniversary of the league, to show respect to the past, the NBA Finals should be a Hell In The Cell series.

[@alexkimani378]

Mandem is working hard...Hope this consistency will translate into the upcoming season.Other than that great job.Lets go Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@justtimes9257]

✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿🇰🇪

[@ViceAdmiralVasilyArkhipov]

Yesssss Kenya 😂brooo Basketball iko fiti

[@rockysalvatore435]

Kenya is gey

[@rockysalvatore435]

@@justtimes9257 you better live in Africa if you so proud. Also dbz isn't African

[@Zurai-Lion]

Wrestlemania basketball would be mad entertaining😂

[@charlesweisman1]

This confirms that my brother and I play basketball how it was intended to be played. I knew it.

[@facelessandnameless]

My brother and I played like those caged days too 😂

[@lewisrodriguezespigares3325]

Wow, this video was one of your very best. I love the "in crescendo" and how you document those historic eras with those pics. Playing inside the cage had to be an experience. An amazing and bloody one, hahaha.

[@jimjim3979]

The frequency the goat baskeball youtuber uploads is increasing and I am all here for it.

[@jonnyarnett]

I appreciate it man! I plan videos to be daily from now on. I might miss a day every so often, because life happens, but this new schedule is here to stay

[@etcheverrypanpi2753]

Very impressive ! Youre work load is similar to kobe bryant to some extent 😅 but I agree with jimjim3979, iam following you since 2020, and you are trully the goat of nba youtubers for me. Thank you for all the great content. Greetings from France !

[@Sheng-Li248]

Yeah... that's why I LAUGH a people who say Jordan wouldn't be able to play in this era. With Defensive 3 Seconds and no hand checking... Jordan would average 30 points a game just off free throws. 😂☠️

[@celtics17banners84]

If you’re calling Jordan and Laimbeer soft, you gotta be a stud 😂

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

Nick Wright said it best, to paraphrase. "This idea that the nba in the 80's and 90's was like the Roman gladiators in the coliseum is idiotic. Nba in the 80's and 90's was slightly more physical with much worse athletes"

[@nathancrash6891]

​@@vicepresidentmikepence889awful take, specially the last part.

[@celtics17banners84]

@@vicepresidentmikepence889Blind leading the blind

[@Soldier979]

@@nathancrash6891 Plumbers and fishermen were playing back then

[@chrilpy]

@@Soldier979streamers, podcasters, and fashion models are playing today

[@jmarcguy]

Lebron, Curry, Jordan, Shaq, Kareem, Wilt, & Russell couldn’t hang in 1891. 😳😳

[@fortnitejake850]

Bruh 1890s was savage af ☠️

[@87alock]

3:12. Laimbeer looks like he's literally about to kill MJ.

[@johnhighfill1909]

I think this perfectly explains why the 1990s were the perfect era for basketball, solid defense, but not brutality.

[@chieflancewaiters]

2000s had better defense and less brutality

[@Gtheman0723]

Personally the 80s seems like the best kind of basketball, because of no flagrant foul, and the big could just stand under the rim

[@jblassio]

TONIGHT: Lakers vs Celtics IN A STEEL CAGE!!!

[@eddie1680]

I love listening to these videos while on my way to school. Thank you for the great content Johnny!

[@NGUI13.]

All the best in ur profession

[@anthonys3892]

Lol this is what I do

[@king-ghost1027]

I watch while I eat after smoking a blunt 💯

[@Editor_Hound]

1910...Basketball, but it's Hell In A Cell. 😂😂😂

[@dwaynejpeterkin]

90s ball players:Back in my day we played rough 1890s: that’s cute we use to tackle players to the ground

[@im2hastyle]

Great Video!!! I love hearing history about everything! This is why I've lost so much respect for JJ Riddick and media now a days. They don't know!!! They just run their mouths on bs assumptions. And they're too lazy to actually do thorough research.

[@hernanbenitez2828]

I would like to see a Willis Reed video one day. The man won 2 finals MVPs and a regular season MVP. I know the era wasnt the greatest but its still a solid resume

[@owensmith2137]

That's a great resume! and he had one of the most inspirational moments in NBA history when he came back from injury for the first minutes of game 7 to inspire the Knicks to win!

[@hernanbenitez2828]

@@owensmith2137exactly. The other 2 guys i know with 2 finals MVPs and a regular season MVP are Hakeem and KD.

[@owensmith2137]

@@hernanbenitez2828 Well there are other guys with more finals MVPs and regular season MVPs but it's still impressive

[@Bregstick]

Ah yes, the (18)90s, when real men put their lives on the line when hitting the court.

[@alchemist_one]

And when walking to the market, and when eating a meal and when going to the hospital and when doing their jobs... 1890s were metal.

[@paulzollinger6343]

Thanks for putting in work for us.

[@jalvarez608]

Johnny saving us this off season! On track to be one of the best NBA KZbinrs

[@mico9978]

always looking forward to your uploads, keep up the good work.

[@entium1]

80's to 90's, I would say 90's, cause there was just enough physicality that players wouldn't get hurt but still could play serious defense.

[@therealdannymullen]

New people never like to acknowledge it. But 90s basketball was the pinnacle. As you said, still physical, still might see men be men, but enough strictness to keep people from brawling. The power AND grace is what made the 90s NBA regal.

[@Buttington_Headerson]

@@therealdannymullenthey changed it for money. David Stern didn’t want another Pistons vs Spurs.

[@PhillipCummingsUSA]

We need to bring back the cage era

[@AJ_Osser]

Best Basketball was playing from 90’s to mid 00’s. Perfect balance between defense and offense. Before that was too brutal, after that too soft.

[@markjackson6431]

hahaha basketball being played in cages like it’s the Thunderdome from Mad Max

[@willg3220]

In my day we didn't even use a ball. Just 5 vs 5 with blunt weapons

[@CryptidFlame]

2000s was just right. Dont want to see ppl get hurt, but u dont want no touch fouls like today

[@nickklavdianos5136]

Games being played in cages is similar to what happens in Europe, were a lot of the arenas had and some still have nets between the court and the grandstands so that people can't throw stuff. Because they used to toss coins and things like that down on the court.

[@vincentleone4021]

get rid of defensive 3 second and allow handchecking. That should level out the eras. Give defense a chance

[@jordanjenkins1671]

My dad played competitive ball in the 80s-90s and followed the NBA since Magic/Bird's era. He said 90s NBA was probably too physical from what he's watched.

[@lenliu749]

I would love to see them bring the steel cage back to basketball.

[@sayto_00]

CashNasty the type to want 1891 Basketball rules.

[@Alexeiyeah]

It is a commonality between contact sports in the old days. In Brazil, soccer was known as "the violent breton sport", due to serious injuries being very common. Like, in Brazil's national team first game, in 1914, a brazilian foward got two teeth knocked out. This makes things very weird, when you consider those sports were amateur, meaning you would be on your 9 to 17 job, go to a sports field, bleed out, knocked down, then go home to work again next day.

[@georgiosgrigoriadis6200]

Excellent and very educative video my friend. I ignored those information about the very old days of basketball.

[@arvelcrynyd6311]

There should be a barbed wire cage surrounding the court, ya know, for safety. Also, a sword should drop from the rafters at the beginning of the second half and the teams should have to fight for it, the victor gets to use it for defense. Also, the losing team should be thrown into a pit of fire. Also, get rid of every line and every rule except how scoring works. There will be no traveling, no double-dribble, no fouls of any sort, no shot clock, no goal tending, nothing. And no 3-point line, just a ball in a basket being worth 2 points, however it is achieved. And more fantasy based team names, like the Dragons or Griffins or Cyclopses or Phoenixes. The Phoenix Phoenixes, it has a ring to it… Okay, I’m clearly jk, but that would be a fun video game. Like Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball but even crazier.

[@baxterbrown8088]

Good luck not getting this one demonetized. Although if it does at least we get "Basketball history but it gets NAUGHTIER"

[@jonnyarnett]

Lol. So far so good. No Karl Malone elbows in this one, so we might be good 😂

[@paulbunyan9436]

Yep, that's why I watched it twice...

[@d3m1g0d4]

There should be an NBA game which should bring back the barbaric cages era

[@sconartist]

This really motivated me to take a trip to Springfield. I went to the HOF as a kid, but it’s been way too long, especially cause I’m outside of Boston. Great content as always 👌🏻

[@millenniumman3815]

90s is best era. Defensive 3 second rule shouldn't exist

[@Saint_MaX_ONeal_B_Rul]

Haha.UFC took inspiration from "Cagers" basketball era.

[@przec13r28]

Damn you Jonny Arnett...🐐 Topic, epic video.

[@lazydadsgarage]

I'd like to see Undertaker and Mankind in basketball cage!

[@Jackson-ec9py]

Ok but basketball in cages seems fire 😂

[@MarkLaw13]

Bring the 80s back

[@marykalyva225]

No human today would get out of a 1900 basketball cage alive, I am certain

[@Cyantist13]

The 2000s is my favorite era, I think 90s and 00s had the best amount of physicality.

[@turbo8628]

This is why there is no true goat of any sport, only a best in their era. Rules change, and that affects the whole game. 3 point line being moved will inflate some players numbers and deflate other players numbers for example. I didn't realise basketball had rule changes like this. For reference, football (soccer) was 1 point for a draw and 2 points for a win until about 1990, so teams were more defensive. Since then, it remained 1 point for a draw, but was bumped to 3 points for a win, leading to more attack minded sides. This means a player who scored 20 goals prior to 1990 was a major achievement, but since 1990 that was the benchmark for a top striker. This argument will be lost on some people, but there are valid reasons tonwhy it should be applied when weighing up current and former players. It is interesting to look at who scored the most points per game etc, but adding a league average for that season (or stretch of time) will reveal far more than just having these numbers directly compared from people playing decades apart. If the average score in a game was 80 points and someone scored 20ppg, thats 25%, but if the average was 100 points and someone scored 20ppg then thats 20%. 5% more is a big deal (or 25% more if you wanna do the math that way), and it is overlooked in way too many "goat" conversations cos they rely far too much on statistics and don't even consider any of the nuances.

[@kevinhouse4376]

Excellent post, turbo.

[@facelessandnameless]

Totally agree!

[@markjackson6431]

homeboy went back to the 1890s HAHAHA

[@滋榎本]

I now feel nostalgic for the NBA when hand checks were allowed. I don't really think that today's star players can be as active as they are now in the era of hand checks. If Michael Jordan were to come into the modern era, I don't think anyone would be able to win even if his three-point shot didn't improve. Allen Iverson, who was active in the era when hand checks were still used, is truly amazing.

[@robertmoore294]

I heard something like this before but I didn't think this was really true. By me seeing this again this let me know that the real hard basketball was in the cage days like if they were playing UFC. I can imagine that kind of energy basketball in this generation. LeBron and curry would want to retire.

[@HailKingCeezer]

A physical caged league would be wild, do a 4pt line and what was that mtv game with the 20 or 30 ft goal over the regular 10ft basket? Make that count for even more pts

[@TheDarkbluerock]

CAAAAGE MAAATCH!!!!!

[@chrish6014]

Another fantastic video Jonny keep up the awesome work!!!

[@Sizdothyx]

The 1960s were really brutal on ball handlers. I feel like we should bring back those dribbling precedent rules and see how many players can REALLY dribble instead of circusing it.

[@kannon1610]

Im a psychopath who wants to see the Bad Boy Pistons pulled into the modern NBA on a time machine but with the special rule that the refs officiate their games like it's still the 80s

[@elijahmorris9864]

I hate the 3 seconds defense rule

[@LeviAntics]

I think the best era for physicality is the 90s cuz it’s not too physical but it’s not too soft

[@anandbenegal]

yes; 90s-2003.

[@jonnuanez7183]

There's way too much money invested in players nowadays. Teams would have to pay a player no matter what, meaning he gets paid even when getting hurt. And if Jordan, Kobe, Curry, etc gets hurt like from a Laimbeer type (look at all the ish Michael put up with from Detroit alone), that's money lost. So I'm sure they said "hey, we gotta chill out on the hacking crap", etc. The clothesline on Rambis may look like "whoa check that out", but that's some serious sh-- going down. Same with Mike; I'm surprised he didn't get paralyzed.

[@samuelthomas7982]

I think tackle basketball should come back with pads and played on a turf.

[@schwiftytree113]

Let the bodies hit the floor 😂

[@iraelliott8936]

After seeing the cages I would like to see a season or two of that

[@steezsteezsteez]

2000s is IMO is the best era in twrms of physicality, I feel like the late 90s rules made for games to be a little too slow whereas from around 01-12 it was just the right mix

[@facelessandnameless]

Agreed. It was the perfect balance.

[@justinmunson1412]

90s for sure no doubt about it they could play defense and offense then

[@tyriordan]

bring back 1800s basketball

[@ekablo.m]

What’s the name of the instrumental music in the video? Not the intro. BTW, good video 💪🏼

[@tonj02]

thats what i wanna know

[@yoofij4724]

Idk why you keep saying this Johnny. Bigs weren’t just stationed in the paint, they had to follow other centers , and did. For example the 90s were more open than the 80s, with no massive rule change to cause that.

[@bballanalytics1552]

Johnny, when will you discuss "Terriotorial picks"?

[@BoBrewer-jo5wm]

You are talking about how hard it was to score in the paint in the 90s I really don't know how M.J did that

[@shade0180]

2000 It's probably the best level of physicality. Just let the regular hand checking back and the 3 in the key.

[@Melancholy-Drakula]

Omg bring back the cages 😂

[@anthonys3892]

I personally would love to see a sport like basketball, in a cage, with pads, and no dribbling so it’s more like football/rugby

[@axelgiosido4997]

Slamball comes close. check it out

[@jonnyarnett]

Slamball is awesome. Too goofy for me to take too seriously, but also immensely entertaining. I'm not an expert on it, but it looks like Russia has been experimenting with something like that. I tweeted about it recently, and it looks violent as heck. lol

[@anthonys3892]

@@jonnyarnett lol sounds like something the Russians would do

[@axelgiosido4997]

maan, the goat @@jonnyarnett replied to my comment. what a day!! thanks man

[@ianmason2003]

Early 90s for me.

[@Mornings]

bring back the cages make these dudes earn that paycheck

[@winstonmiu]

I think with stretch bigs in the league, we don’t need the defensive 3 seconds anymore.

[@Nathan-du3js]

Can you make a Spotify podcast? I would listen to that all day long

[@jonnyarnett]

Possibly! My editor has been encouraging me to do more stuff for simply audio listeners... so who knows

[@Nathan-du3js]

@@jonnyarnett🥳

[@elgrannido156]

I would be another loyal listener.

[@therealdannymullen]

I remain convinced if the 80s players got to play 80s defense, and the current team HAD to use todays rules..... It wouldnt even be close. Hakeem camped in the lane ALL GAME and NO ONE in the paint to meet MJ??? Shiiiiiiiid.

[@GloriousKev]

imo the 90s were the ideal era for physical play in the NBA. My only real beef with that era is the hand checking. The 2000s especially after the rule changes in 2004 were too much. I do not like defensive 3 in the key either.

[@tonj02]

Does anyone know what the background music is?

[@vicentecampos2893]

Very interesting

[@jblassio]

I wonder how many memes we’d get out of LeBron James if we’re to send him back to the pre-1930s to deal with their defense. He’d be carried out off the court for as long as he lasted.😂😂😂

[@marceloasensiofilho3833]

The players nowadays are way too soft. I really wish the NBA would return to a more physical state. Not talking about soft and hard fouls being the same but reducing the ammount of free throws and allowing more contact

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

More contact does not make a game better Riley’s Knicks never won because they cared more about contact then field goals

[@Grinchroy1]

brutal and less injuries plus if u were injured u still played the next game

[@marceloasensiofilho3833]

@@chrisuncleahmad666 my point is that allowing more contact allows tougher defending.

[@marceloasensiofilho3833]

@BoxingisgoatedBoxingisgo-sy7jy personally I did like the slower pace

[@dwaynejpeterkin]

Can always bring the cages back if u want 😉

[@andresdelportillo9917]

Fun fact: Laimbeer never ended a career with his dirty moves

[@punyemas9783]

Must be the adrenaline rush if you're the guy on the receiving end. You wanna get right back up and smack him right in the face 😂