You Don’t Understand…

My list of the NBA aspects that you won't fully understand unless you actually saw it.
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The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
My love for the game only continues to grow as time goes on. I love studying and analyzing the game, with an unbiased perspective. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, and celebrate this amazing game and it's rich history with me!
I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
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Intro Music: Turn On - RW Smith • Turn On - RW Smith (No... ​​​​​​​​​​
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#nba #basketball #hoops

[@jonnyarnett]

What is something in NBA History that people wouldn't fully understand unless they saw it???

[@Kool_Kids69]

50s

[@Noob_Guy2k]

Jordan

[@mregggames]

kareem

[@Ryan__2000]

2006 wade finals

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

Ok Johnny, first example is another one of little knowledge. Rodman didn't always guard Shaq in those games, he often was put on Shaq in the clutch so that he could keep Shaq to ZERO or only 1 point in the 4th and OT of games. I agree Ben Wallace didn't shut Shaq down but Rodman did when he guarded him.

[@Noin007]

Late 90s basketball was basically slow everything down and beat the other team with execution. Fewer possessions means that every possession matters more and mistakes are more costly. It punished younger teams and rewarded veteran experience.

[@MMK77344]

Which is part of why I think why people watched more back then. The 90s-2000s rewarded more precision and grit whereas today it’s more about an entertaining high end pace

[@waynewhitaker234]

​@@MMK77344you guys are preaching

[@tlxxlt4745]

​​@@MMK77344it's only more entertainment and high end pace because players today are more skilled and more versatile then back then. I get the entertainment part though, as I didn't watch jordan

[@09lowkey]

@@tlxxlt4745 That's not completely true, sure players have evolved in the 30 years since the 90s but the game has also lost a large amount of variety. Every team in the league now runs high PnR, iso hunts, and shoots a ton of 3s. There isn't much variety, they just give the ball to their best ballhandler and wait for them to create while the other 4 players stand at the 3pt line, literally about 70% of NBA basketball today. It's he same with Jokic, except he's slow and he's a Center, and love watching Jokic.

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

That also sums up playoff basketball even today! Look at Denver’s scoring totals in the finals. The issue isn’t necessarily that the pace is faster today it’s that player don’t play hard on both ends until the playoffs so the scores are artificially higher when in reality when both teams play hard the scores are lower. In the regular season 2 years ago Jonathan Kuminga score 20 plus points while primarily being guarded by Lebron James in the regular season. 2 years later in the WCSF against the Lakers Jonathan Kuminga could barley get consistent minutes. That should tell you all you need to know about regular season ball these days.

[@sjw4life546]

Seeing a mad Hakeem demolish fools in the playoffs during his MVP loss to Robinson was a thing of beauty.

[@chocamocha4541]

Casuals need to watch old players instead of dismissing opinions that favor them over their current players then calling people Oldheads without even watching them!!

[@humancentiped3]

same goes with the opposite eh?

[@markgilbertjr413]

And vice versa.

[@Dimesprodz]

@@humancentiped3 yep, why your upset?

[@jaketerpening3284]

​@@humancentiped3 Not exactly. While "old heads" have a tendency to unfairly dismiss current players, in general, they at least still watch and just don't like what they see.

[@TrueAnakinSkywalker]

First it’s condescending to use the word “casuals” most people are casuals!, they just don’t know it. I’m 40 and watched the NBA all my life, I’m a casual. I’ve never researched players in 60-70s even if they are all time greats. When you have a job, family and commitments…you should be a “casual”. Unless you have a job that involves researching the NBA you’re a casual too. Wonderful way to miss the entire point of the video in which most people think they know more than they actually do.

[@HailKingCeezer]

I can understand watching low scoring games boring on video, but watching it live was a different experience. You were engaged and locked in watching and every point mattered. The intensity was just a different experience. I'd rather watch that than jacking up 3s, uncontested layups and the first to 140 wins arcade game, and the most memorable recent playoff games have been slower, grind it out games. Just my preference.

[@CheapSkateGrower]

‘98 Eastern Conference Finals game 7 was a game for the ages between the Bulls and Pacers. People don’t realize how close that series was, and how many big shots Reggie Miller made throughout that series. Flash forward to the ‘98 Finals between the Bulls and Jazz, and the iconic “shot” to close out the series and MJ’s second retirement. Seriously, don’t sleep on that ECF Game 7.

[@melvynsngltn27]

Chicago threw or choked away two games against Indiana

[@khalidrogers4310]

Still think that might have been the toughest series during that three peat. Pippen was on Mark Jackson harassing him for the length of the court. The Davis brothers laid down punishing screens for Miller who who run his defender into them relentlessly. GREAT series.

[@uberneanderthal]

Reggie's a classic example of a player born in the wrong era. the rules in the 90s heavily favored iso post-up scorers like Jordan, Malone, Hakeem and Barkley, while off-ball movement, catch-and-shoot scorers like Reggie were under-utilized.

[@FEDEXLuchs]

@@uberneanderthal it didnt help that the pacers low post players besides smith couldnt hit free throws.. so fouling was preferable than opening a 3

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

@uberneanderthal To your point about Reggie Miller, I also feel the same way about John Stockton. I think if he is a player today no way he shoots less than 20 shots per game and no way atleast 8 of those attempts aren’t 3’s. Dude could do everything, I also think in 2023 Shawn Kemp would’ve had more value because if you watch his old games he shoots and makes a lot of catch and shoot long 2’s that easily become 3 pointers today, also he was a fantastic offensive fulcrum of a facilitator when given the chance. I could go on but there are a lot of players trapped in the 90’s

[@ingolfurmagnusson4786]

The brilliant post moves of Mchale and Olajuwon. Something you need to see a whole game of to fully appreciate

[@kylemonsterdrywallfistbump5948]

Ever heard of Tim Duncan

[@jp3813]

@@kylemonsterdrywallfistbump5948 Duncan, Barkley, Malone, Garnett, Robinson, etc... Lots of players dominated the post, but the OP is specifically referring to moves. Kinda like crossovers for the likes of Iverson.

[@adamkanizsai2990]

@@kylemonsterdrywallfistbump5948 Yes, I love him. Ever heard of his nickname? He was astonishingly polished, but far away from Hakeem in terms of skills.

[@redman6790]

McHale mastered the hand movements on the post, Olajuwon mastered the foot movements on the post. Both a joy to watch

[@lca715]

The one thing you left out is that the calls were a lot tighter in the 60's than they were in the 90's. Shaq just bowling over the defender was an offensive foul all day. And his sloppy footwork would have been called traveling as well.

[@MerkhVision]

Great point. Wilt deliberately held back and didn’t use his physical strength as much because he didn’t want a bad reputation. And you know any small thing wrong he might do would be blown out of proportion and used against him back then, fueled by racial tensions at the time.

[@daryld149]

The Showtime Lakers were NEXT LEVEL and truly changed how the game was played. I also think they were a major reason the NBA became popular on TV. Yes, being in LA mattered as the hub of entertainment…but a huge part was that their games were rarely, if ever, boring. The athleticism, showmanship, and teamwork… Great call on that one.

[@TheProtagonistDies]

people forget about the bad boy pistons too. today's basketball couldn't handle yesterday's basketball they were too tough

[@kevinhouse4376]

As a longtime Celtics fan (since around 1970), nothing scared me more than Magic Johnson leading the Lakers' fast break.

[@thetrib1]

It doesn't work without magic. He and bird are now underrated??? Odd. Same with Dr. J

[@peterpan3022]

@@TheProtagonistDies well, to be fair its wasnt just "tough" it was basically vicious and malicious. they just didnt play basketball at times and that sort of stuff does not belong on any court besides from fighting events. officiating was just a joke.

[@twilitezn]

@@peterpan3022 Honestly, while they were dirty, they just found a loophole and tested the limits of it...They were a VERY smart team - individually and as a group - and they had Daly, who I believe is one of the most criminally underrated coaches of all time...For what he had at his disposal, I think that he's a Top 5 coach of all time....The Pistons - aside from Mahorn - were all very skilled at what they did....so no, I don't think that their dirtiness is what totally set them apart....it gave them their edge, but in the last 5 minutes, they rarely went that route...

[@GloriousKev]

Allen Iverson's greatness is something else that is lost on the younger generation. They see a guy who threw up a bunch of garbage on bad teams. However, those teams were usually more defensive oriented and he was the only real scorer on many of those teams in Philly. He wasn't inefficient he was just ball dominant.

[@brandonwise2936]

Finally somebody that gets it lol, I feel like AI was very similar to Kobe( offensively)… don’t get why he doesn’t get the same respect.

[@jaceking5938]

AI Was inefficient, just cause you feel that's what he needed to do on those teams doesn't make him efficient 😂 and AI was even more of a chucker than Kobe, not a good comp

[@brandonwise2936]

@@jaceking5938 ahhh yes Allen I version averaged more assists and also only shot 2% worse from the field than Kobe…. Not to mention they played the same position but yes go off and say it’s a bad comp🤣 go look at the stats than come talk to me. If AI was inefficient than so was Kobe. AI had to do the same shit Kobe had to do with bum ass teams. It’s a pretty cut and dry compression lol.

[@09lowkey]

@@jaceking5938 I wouldn't call Iverson 'inefficient' per say because he was the only guy on those teams who could create his own shot. In the 00s, one of the slowest eras of basketball, he was his team's best option to score or to a lesser extent manipulate the Defense. That's what they needed, someone to give the opponent problems, and that's what he did. He played with a quickness that opposing defenders couldn't match, with a level of stamina they couldn't match either, so what he missed a 12ft jumper, that's what offensive rebounds and put backs are for, something that's lost with this era of basketball because everything is a 3pt shots, which can't be cleaned up like 10-15ft shots can. If you have good rebounders, then missing a 15ft jumper will result in the same 2pts were that shot to go in.

[@jaceking5938]

@@brandonwise2936 it's ok, mald harder about the fact his inefficient play couldn't lead to W's. 2% worse on 2.5 more shots per game is a big difference over a season or a career

[@wej4life]

A detailed breakdown of Hakeem in his prime would be great. For whatever reason this man seems to be kinda forgotten but he dominated on both ends of the court during the golden age of centers and it's hard to appreciate the skill unless you saw it at the time. No one was doing what Hakeem did in 1v1 situations, paired with his shot blocking and overall athleticism. Guy was a beast all around. I really enjoy your content!

[@Deathtr00per336]

Thinking basketball has a video on Hakeem’s prime and a couple other players if you’re interested

[@wej4life]

@@Deathtr00per336 I saw it, great video and also a great channel

[@mistameff3528]

9:50 the amount of absolutely crazy passes Magic made is just insane. Man o man can he deliver the ball.

[@MC-ej4to]

Watch Luka he is now mimicking these passes it's so wild.

[@____2080_____]

As someone who’s old and is older than Shaquille O’Neal and lived at the end of the aging Wilt Chamberlain, a player, who, by himself, defeated the showtime Lakers, starting five during a pick up game as witnessed by Larry Brown, prevented that entire squad from scoring… Wilt Chamberlain would’ve taken Shaquille O’Neal’s primary weapon away from him: his strength. There are too many people who swear by how strong will was in his playing days to t dismiss his ability to physically move Shaq. One thing about human nature with someone who’s as large as secure was, and who has never been challenged physically is that meeting someone who could not only not be budged, but likely could overpower him would have been a sight to see. This was during the day and prime Shaquille O’Neal wear. He was as bad a free-throw shooter as well. It was And equally can’t shoot.

[@razvanandreiantonescurogoz4236]

We needed the averages of peak Shaq to understand how well Rodman and Wallace guarded him

[@8997024]

Agreed, those stats are misleading because we know it includes all the years past his prime when he was nowhere near as good LA Shaq

[@MrCombs234]

It still doesn’t mean anything in that context. He was getting 27 and 13 a game vs the greatest rebounder of all time. Rodman and Wallace may have been a speed bump for Shaq but he still ran through it. Lol

[@artix003]

lts at around 28 ppg from 2nd year to 3peat. his 1st year and premiami was at 23.4 and 21.5

[@celestialdemon1316]

That's tough to do as well, because in cases like Rodman, his last year defending Shaq was in 1998 when Shaq was 26 years old. He still had the best part of his prime left, and Rodman never defended him during that time. So, the best way you can measure it is to compare just the years Shaq played that Rodman and Wallace defended him. With that being the case, here are the stats: Shaq vs. Rodman - '92-'98 26.8 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 54% Shaq's stats during '92-'98 27.2 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 57.8% His stats stayed pretty close against Rodman as they were for the whole year. Now let's do Ben Wallace: Shaq vs. Wallace - '97-'10 24.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 58.5% Shaq's stats during '97-'10 22.6 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 58.3% Shaq actually got a bucket more a game when against Wallace.

[@theALMIGHTY987]

Shaq's game is summed up in one word, position! It was certain places by the basket it was no stopping him.

[@NickPR87]

MJ's dominance on both ends of the court, especially in his earlier years where he played at a much faster pace on both ends. Like, he would suffocate opposing guards and would break down his main defender on the other end and dunk on 2-3 defenders at the rim. The amount of posters he had against multiple defenders is insane!

[@peacegawd5192]

The best way to describe it to kids is by telling them jordan in real life spammed the turbo button and had maxed out slasher badges and hall of fame mid range and post player lol

[@theALMIGHTY987]

The great MJ's most effective intangible was controlling the tempo of the game. U really didn't see that until the 1990 season, he had the steals, blocks, & dunks in the 80's but never really controlled the tempo of the game then.

[@joejett5084]

@@peacegawd5192Jordan is so good on nba2k it’s like cheating. I never hear the kids talk about 2k jordan.

[@legrandelysee98]

@@joejett5084 In game yes, in a simulation no, 2k love too much LeBron

[@barriarnold29]

@@peacegawd5192 and hof limitless takeoff

[@DblTap317]

The "slower" play of the 90's, the center lumbering around pitching tents under the hoop, defensive focus etc.. made a great offensive player look kinda magical to a kid

[@alexandreazevedo9906]

You had to witness Hakeem...so many players in this league and still Hakeem is unique to this very day

[@anthonyhaun1990]

That fear when MJ was heating up.. other players can heat up and completely take over games, but it's like here and there. Jordan would make sure of the W through sheer magical force of will so often it was just otherworldly. I saw Lebron in 2007 beat the Pistons and I was like "Wow" maybe he really can carry the torch..but he just wasn't able to (of course) put on nearly as many great playoff performances as Jordan.

[@BOSSDONMAN]

I don't find the 98 Finals boring to watch. I honestly really enjoyed the tug-of-war style of basketball - it made you really appreciate it a lot more when a player scored (relative to the hyperinflated scoring we see today) precisely because it was much more scarce/rare.

[@mcmerry2846]

teams nowadays just shoot the ball fast and don't play defense...

[@theALMIGHTY987]

Nowadays it's a/b who can outscore the other team, in the 90's it was a/b controlling the tempo of the game! Each possession counted so u couldn't waste them or your opponents would make u pay!!

[@mr.kwamid-86_43]

​@@theALMIGHTY987yease. Actually giving your teammates time to setup, and play the field. Now it’s jacking up threes half court 😂

[@theALMIGHTY987]

@@mr.kwamid-86_43 Both teams jack up a bunch of 3's, NTM it's a lot of isolation 🏀now. The Spurs & warriors give u a '90s feel because whoever has a high percentage shot will get the 🏀!!

[@highlightking0]

Have yu ever thought that with the top tier talent of today’s athletes plus no hand checking is what made the nba scoring what it is today?

[@Ejohns1004]

How absolutely freaking dominant the 2004 Pistons were as a defensive team.

[@andrewmays8990]

Yeah 04 Pistons should be mentioned

[@richborn6700]

A curse of the Lakers. Nobody wants to discuss the teams that beat them in the finals or playoffs. It's always about what happened to LA, never anything positive about the other team. Case in point the WCF THIS YEAR. Every talking head the next morning would say "Bron found Jokic weakness". "Lakers gonna sweep". "AD gonna shut down Jamal". "They got swept but it was a *CLOSE SWEEP* "

[@CryptidFlame]

I was gonna comment this too

[@wenonaman6042]

That streak where the Pistons held teams under 70 points was insane.

[@Ejohns1004]

@@wenonaman6042 best part was where the Nets celebrated getting beat by almost 30 because they broke the streak by scoring 70. They were celebrating like they won a ring. That's how dominant that Pistons team was

[@smallwonder866]

People don't seem to understand that Wilt had a 400lbs bench press and was a National High Jump Champion. This means that his athleticism would indeed translate to today's game.

[@bryantnonya8704]

I love the slow it down grind it out style of play in the '90s! It becomes a battle of psychological warfare and if you're a real basketball fan I think that's something you could appreciate...

[@RIPJimmyA7X]

Everyone calls the 05 finals boring but to me it was a masterclass of execution and defense

[@MrCombs234]

Man thank you especially for the first segment about Shaq. I always get VERY annoyed when anyone says someone from todays game could give him problems or stop him. Ben Wallace was imo the greatest post defender of all time and not even he was ‘stopping’ Shaq. It’s just hilarious how recency bias takes hold of everyone’s opinions.

[@abet317l.3]

Ben is a great defender but no way he is the best. Plus he is so undersized for the position. Question is, who were the great centers Shaq went up against when he dominated? coz in the 90's they gave him the business. Especially Hakeem schooling him.

[@maartenvz]

Dikembe ofcourse. What wasnt fair is that Shaq was usually stronger and faster than his opponent. Edit: fair point, dikembe didn't play for the Nets yet so he had dale Davis who was too small, dikembe and then todd freaking mcculloch.. Sabonis did pretty well holding him to 26 and 12 in the wcf and Duncan/Robinson beat him in 2003

[@justinholland6132]

And what about nostalgia bias? Y doesn't anyone talk about that?

[@abet317l.3]

@@maartenvz good ones. Although dikembe was old already in the 2000s and is not among the best ones even in the 90s. Sabonis arrived an old man too which is one of the greatest what ifs. Jazz whipped Shaq in 98 with his 3 allstars, oldman david robinson and young timmy gave him the business in 99. Basically when everyone older and kobe hit that stride that's when shaq won any.

[@RR-tm9ku]

​@justinholland6132 You're engaging in "whataboutism" as a way to ignore how ridiculous it is that some people think anybody today would "lock down" Shaq. Anybody that has actually watched basketball for more than a decade knows that Shaq wasn't getting locked down in ANY era.

[@Rock_em.sock_em]

RE: Shaq’s dominance vs Wilt and Kareem’s finesse, it’s fair to note the rules didn’t allow Wilt and Kareem to play physical. The way Shaq played would have been nonstop offensive fouls for Wilt and Kareem, so they had to play with finesse instead of bully ball

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

Kareem still wouldn't have been able to play like that as he was about 100 pounds lighter than Shaq. Wilt on the other hand...

[@sdiver68]

The league changed rules and pressured Wilt to not play bully ball. Unconstrained he was stronger, taller, more athletic and more skilled than Shaq.

[@dzonikinderjaje3298]

@@sdiver68 stronger? well... I seriously doubt that. athletic? this is not a 100 yard dash, I remember young shaq he was mobile as hell for that size, a freak of nature.

[@sdiver68]

@dzonikinderjaje3298 I can't prove it, but multiple sources report Wilt's freakish strength including Arnold Schwarzenegger. Included are eyewitness stories of 500+ lb bench at age 48 press and 170 lb triceps extensions. Shaq maxed at 450.

[@vondamn9943]

​@@dzonikinderjaje3298absolutely stronger

[@_hulse]

I love shaq and don’t downplay his dominance but that statistic you showed also doesn’t take into account how his career dipped off towards the end and most his number vs those two plays came in around his prime while he may have been averaging 26 agaisnt them he was basically averaging 30 against everyone else

[@pjferrell3303]

I thought that too. With the lakers he was 27pts, 11.8rb, and 3.1 ast. They made him play average if you just look at those games. I didn’t look hard enough to find an aggregate after the lakers but it looks like 15pts ish, 7.5rb ish, and 1.5ast ish

[@_drawkward_]

And, with "news flash - Wilt Chamberlain once existed" I breathed a contented sigh of agreement.Thank you.

[@kirkiedakingpin]

The greatness of power forwards in the late 90s to 2000s. Almost every team had a allstar level power forward. Duncan Dirk and KG get most of the acclaim but there were so many more.Rasheed Wallace, Webber JO the Davis boys from Indiana Shawn KempVim Baker and the list goes on. You had to bring your A fame nightly if you were a 4

[@vicentecampos2893]

What if Duncan is a 5 instead of a 4. I have never Include him in the same bag as KG,Webber, Kemp, Novitzki.

[@SomeTigerBass]

@@vicentecampos2893 I think it's fair to call him a 4 for the first few years until David Robinson retired. After 2003, definitely a 5

[@warlock7760]

Awesome video as always. I always considered the showtime lakers the fastest team I have ever seen. A lot of people told me that today's game is faster but I said it may be faster but none is faster than that team. Thank you for making that point clear to younger generations

[@beenizz5102]

Rodman and wallace not only show you that being a 7 foot big and number of 7 footers in your era means nothing when it comes to nba greats, but shows you that the 90s n 00s had the shortest but best big man defender and rebounder of any other era. Also as great as shaq was in his particular era, always know it’s a power based game and tho fun to watch, once you switch the rules to strictly skill first and treat backdown punishment as an offensive foul with the original rules, Shaqs dominance nosedives. Still an all time great but the casuals and those with untrained eyes will truly see how many more bigs were clearly overall greater than him

[@Garkimyer]

I don’t think that people understand how athletic players where in the 60’s and 70’s. There’s a video of Bill Russell literally jumping over the head of an upright, ~6’7 defender, to make a dunk. Then you have Wilt, who could jump just as high or higher than him, based on the rebounding numbers when they played each other, except he had an array of shots and dunks on the offensive end of the court, and was so much stronger that Russell has said that he was by far the most imposing physical force to ever play in the league, including Shaq.

[@BiSiV3xIX]

First comment is from Serbia to honor Nikola Jokic i dont know what this video is about but i am going to watch it anyway because i love Johnny and NBA! One love one game peace

[@JoseAngelCorona8]

You had to watch the way Kobe was scoring in 2003-2006 the defensive looks, shot selection, moves, everything he did was on the highest level of difficulty and he was still able to score at will. Truly some of the most relentless offensive showings i’ve ever seen.

[@justanobody0]

So why do you think Kobe quit? That year he averaged over 27 FG attempts a game then he only takes 3 FG attempts in a half with the season on the line

[@JoseAngelCorona8]

@@justanobody0 for sure there’s a bunch of videos that covered that well, i believe Kobe even said he was trying to prove a point to the team/coach which could be observed to some as selfish, only Kobe and the team knows what was going on.

[@basket472]

score at will? Lmao... look at the splits... look at the tape.

[@JoseAngelCorona8]

@@basket472 once again as the title of this video says, you had to watch the games and see how defense was played especially the way he was being defended. More often than not he was the 1st 2nd and 3rd option on his team. If you know, you know. Just look at all the interviews from his contemporaries and understand how feared he truly was compared to everyone else shooting “favorable” splits.

[@DonnellKane]

@@basket472must mean free throw

[@InceptionMusicGrp]

Rodman & Ben didn't put the clamps on him. They held their own & contained him. They allowed their team to focus & not have to double as often as the rest of the league because they were able to play him 1on1 for the most part, & that is why their teams were able to win. Sha1 against 1on1 in the NBA would average 40 & 20. He averaged 30 & 15 against double teams. So playing him 1on1 & holding him under 27 points is kind of "clamped"..

[@renstein8210]

Rod man didn’t regularly guard Shaq for the Bulls. The Bulls had 18 fouls to give against Shaq with three big centres. The legend of Rodman came from a few games where Rodman very successful guarded Shaq in important situations.

[@tommywolmart265]

I dont think people remember exactly how dramatic the Duns turn around was with Nash and the impact he had on that team and the league that 1st season

[@OpaqueNihilist]

And our hero came back when we needed him most. Its a huge undertaking, but have you ever thought about making a video about how the relationship between the NBA and NCAA has changed? Not really just the draft rules and obvious player empowerment but via atmosphere. Nobody really seems to care about Kareems collegiate career anymore, and I feel like its one of the biggest reasons he's so understated as a legend. Appreciate the quality content!

[@cadecrusader3940]

Thank you Jonny, appreciate you making this a series now!

[@CiabanItReal]

Yeah, your comment on shaq being the most dominate is interesting, since as you point out, Wilt existed, but so did Mikan. I guess I would say Shaq was the most physically dominating center ever. Because guys like Kareem, Wilt, Mikan could score whenever they wanted and were just as unstoppable, they just scored in different ways.

[@mrjermz5406]

Only because they weren't allowed to be that physical.

[@theALMIGHTY987]

Out of those players u named who had consecutive seasons that it was absolutely no answer for them🤔?? I watched Shaq from '00-'02 & he ruled that three yr span!

[@karlisvanags4212]

Thank you Magic Johnson for making basketball fast and more pace. I love run n gun basketball. Magic is one who changed the game for sure. You always talk about Curry and Iverson but Magic is one thay people doesn't mention in changing the game conversations.

[@MJIZZEL]

Prime sabonis was insane. The guy was deadly in the post, deadly from outside, and could take you off the dribble. He was one of the best passers I've seen. At 7'3", his team let him start a pg often, he was that good handling the ball. On defense, the opposing center didn't get many points. Go look at what he did to David Robinson in the 88 game against the USA. He destroyed him. Of course a year later the knee and foot injuries started so he was a shell of himself by the 92 Olympics. On the blazers he was just a shell of the 92 sabonis. Heard many NBA players who played against him talk about how he would have been in the conco of Wilt and Kareem had Russia let him come over when he was originally drafted. The guy was as good as advertised.

[@prlysis]

That '98 Jazz team were fresh off a 4-0 conference finals sweep against a 61-win Lakers team that had 4 all-stars in Shaq, Kobe, Eddie Jones, and Nick Van Exel.

[@facelessandnameless]

Exactly! Haha

[@DOMCOM40]

I think you need to witness Larry Bird play. I mean sure highlights are great. But watch full games. Dude has zero flaws on offense. Dude is by far the greatest forward to ever play the game. The fact that people are dropping him out of their top 10 shows that they simply do not understand basketball and how it is supposed to be played. Bird is top 5 all time at worst. And I have him number 3 behind MJ and Kobe.

[@facelessandnameless]

I’ve got the same top three 👌

[@hisownfool1]

Oscar Schmidt! The master of the corner three. There's a name I haven't heard in a long time. As one of the resident "old heads," I remember him in his prime. He was really good. Check out his Wikipedia page. He is probably the greatest scorer in Olympic and FIBA tournament history. I remember watching the 1987 Pan American Games final in which he led Brazil to a win over a US team that featured a bunch of future NBA players. (It foreshadowed the 1988 Olympic collapse which led to the creation of the "Dream Team.")

[@apopet]

He has a great rival for the second title, Nick Galis - who actually has more ppg, in most cases.

[@projoebiochem]

I was lucky enough to see Oscar Schmidt play in the Pan Am Games in Indianapolis in 1987. Saw Brazil an early game against Uruguay, I think. That was one of the first times that an international team beat the U.S. in a major tournament. Schmidt was the real deal.

[@jonnyarnett]

Excellent stuff! I appreciate you informing me on him. I’ve got some film to watch…

[@PIP...33]

@@jonnyarnett CAREER AVERAGE COUNTS SHAQ HIS 5 OR 7 PPG CAVS AND BOSTON YEAR LAST. BUT IN PRIME SHAQ WAS 35 PPG PLAYOFF BUT WALLACE RODMAN AND OLAJUWON HELD HIM ON 10 PTS LESS . LEARN BEFORE U TALK.

[@PIP...33]

@@jonnyarnett U DO REALIZE THAT TOTAL CAREER PPG OF SHAQ IS LOW CAUSE HIS BOSTON CAVS YEAR HE AVERAGE 5 PPG what means u don't know nba

[@lazydadsgarage]

In the dead part of the off season Jonny is making the most interest NBA content. I appreciate you

[@elreiec1]

Thank goodness for this channel for giving viewers proper due on the history and context. Never stop uploading, Jonny.

[@dvldog_]

Great vid, as usual... younger fans don't realize that there was even a nickname for how teams tried to stop Shaq: Hack-a-Shaq... the only way teams could hope to contain him was to foul him and send him to the FT line.... Sounds pretty dominant to me...

[@alex4833]

Great video, Jonny! Given that the NBA is 77 years old, there is so much we can all learn. I mainly followed it during the 90s and the 2000s as I grew up during that time. I haven't had as much time in the last 10 years, but still try to keep up. I admit I have a lot to learn myself, and I like how your channel and others (like Thinking Basketball) have a lot great info about NBA history. I like the examples you shared too. I remember how dominant Shaq was. As a Kings fan, I recall how Vlade used to flop too lol. And, I remember how no one could stop Shaq. I remember how Mutombo was no match for him in the 01 finals. Great points also about the pacing of games. For a while I was used to seeing scores in the 80s, 90s, and low 100s (and occasional scores lower than that) and you are right that we need to factor in era differences, like with pacing. Thanks for the suggestions on games to watch to learn more. I would love to learn more about the Showtime Lakers. I will look up the games you mentioned. Have a great week!

[@mickeylee2624]

More nuance on Shaq: His Orlando version was even better overall (defense and many aspects other than bullying his way to the rim), but because most his historically dominant big men peers either retired or were far past their prime (Dream, Admiral, Ewing, Zo, Mutombo), he had a field day in his years as a Laker with few remaining centers to defend him adequately.

[@wetlettuce8215]

what separates the casuals and the baller/fans is that casuals look for highlights, many dribbles for two points, flashy passes. what real fans look are smart plays, appreciate how a player scores with less movement ( the lesser the player does while scoring used to drop my jaw, guys like kobe,joe johnson, jordan, duncan, dirk, stockton and etc) needs a trained eye to see the actual wonders of the game

[@The-Dom]

"because the game is played with a completely different style" it's much more than just style, its ruleset. Extra step (gather step), carries (hesitation moves), and no hand checking. It is impossible to compare modern nba to pre-2004 NBA.

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

Western Conference teams in the early 2000s, such as Shaq and Kobe's Lakers and Duncan's Spurs, were very strong.

[@adamkanizsai2990]

Kings, Blazers, Suns, Wolves, Mavs, Jazz. And they try to tell us, that the current is the thoughest era of NBA basketball. Every mentioned team was above 50% year by year, nowadays if a team can reach 50%, it is easily on the top of the conference...

[@EdwardNg]

Great video! The kids need to watch this video. Then go watch all the games. A goat does not call himself a goat.

[@ONEDACASH]

awesome video bro ,,,ill always love my 90z nba, rose tinted glasses i guess but you hit the nail on the head with this one 💯🇳🇿👋🏽

[@acornsucks2111]

There was no one that Shaq could not play bully ball with and dunk over them, it was just a question of how much the refs let him get away with.

[@freedomloyals5824]

Great video. Keep them coming ❤

[@santana901parker4]

Just imagining have to guard shaq scares me 😂

[@MC-ej4to]

The transition of the Power Forward from the 90's into 2000. The talent was insane and never talked about enough.

[@southwest1988]

Showtime Lakers is so crazy fast made me want to run 🔥

[@khyfer1434]

Hii jonny, keep up the good work man❤

[@javigar133]

Jonny, brilliant video, every comment was on point. Regarding Sabonis, I was fortunate to watch him play for Real Madrid, already past his prime, and oh my lord!

[@animeguitarguy]

That Bulls/Jazz game was also just a flat out anomaly. The Bulls were locking them down but the Jazz also just couldn't make a wide open shot. By that guy's logic the 83 Nuggets and Pistons are by far the greatest teams of all time

[@Mike-yq7ce]

Good video. Shaq was a dominant force during his prime. I do agree there are aspects that one won't fully understand unless they watched it then. I also agree on the era thing. One has to consider the era to have the proper context. Yes the 90's was a slow era I like that style though as it did require better execution compared to today's game.

[@poly_g6068]

I don't think I've ever heard someone bring up the Jazz's 54 points as a knock against Jordan's legacy. Maybe ever.

[@Ivander85]

Some people will just say anything to discredit the greats. Not even worth replying to.

[@DrJohnnyJ]

The big thing about Shaq was that the referees didn't call offensive fouls on him. As you said, he threw elbows and shoulders without penalty. The NBA made him a superstar, genetics made him a star. He had no shot.

[@Taj_Rahine]

Great video, loved the Showtime Lakers stuff.

[@CiabanItReal]

The only other Point Guard I could see running that 80's Lakers offense was John Stockton. He was in impeccable shape, and always made the perfect pass.

[@randomperson2540]

Oww jonny being a teacher this video nice

[@warreno.bryant4406]

Correct j.a keep up the great work when it comes to the game u totally understand it

[@skipodap1]

I'm a pacers fan - watched almost every game back in the 90s to early 2000s. Those clips watching Shaq in the 2000 NBA finals still hurt. his dominance was no joke.

[@mullymullyt]

I hate to say, I don't think it's fair to show Shaq's career stats vs his prime stats when comparing against Rodman & Big Ben because Shaq didn't do anything his last few years

[@danielgloyd4529]

The 2nd half of the 90s were definitely different. You could routinely see teams run the shot clock down to less than 5 every possession. Multiple times putting up a shot to beat the buzzer. Not unlike an NFL team letting the play clock run down every play to run the clock out.

[@fortynights1513]

What caused them to start running the clock down?

[@theALMIGHTY987]

They played more offensive sets then, it was a/b controlling the tempo of the game. Meaning they were intent on taking advantage of their opponents TO's, miscues, & bad shots w/the 🏀!!

[@JamesSmith-ey7vc]

Thank you so much for speaking with logic instead of emotions.

[@ktapreswreckd921v9]

Jonny, the 90's as well as the 80's game was much slower than today's game because of their was (better post) play, along with better and more physical defense being played. In other words, more competitive basketball.

[@Nazoto]

What I want to witness in 4k is how dominant wilt really is and is Bill really that great to win 11 chips

[@MaleviahBurned]

It's easier to win when there were 8 teams.

[@Nazoto]

@@MaleviahBurned that's why I wanna see it so that we can assess it better

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

Shaq was such an imposing force. No one could stop him in the paint. His brute force down low was impressive. If you got him in a one on one matchup, there was absolutely no way you were stopping him.

[@theALMIGHTY987]

"POSITION" was the name of Shaq's game, he said he ran from one painted area to the other. The game plan was not to let him get to his spots where he was basically unstoppable!!

[@ogloc4478]

Gotta admit that block from Ben Wallace was super impressive and showed how strong he was

[@tyronebrown2246]

That part

[@tyronebrown2246]

@@theALMIGHTY987 Shaq will get that ball anywhere in the paint area. That whole area was his,”spot.”

[@theALMIGHTY987]

@@tyronebrown2246 Not close to the FT line tho', he had the jump hook but it wasn't as high percentage as 3ft from the basket!! That's why you'd see Shaq battling for position.

[@Jen_Wick]

Top notch piece. I appreciate the referrals!

[@Noblesavage31]

Yet another video you smashed bro 💪🏽

[@josephrafferty6763]

Curry's gravity (especially from KD era). So, so many casual fans really don't understand how much of an impact other teams' fear of him had on the game every single night.

[@bmsuperstar1]

The Game is hand tailored to weaklings like him and KD. Defense is made completely toothless. 35 three pointers per game is not basketball. The game is ruined as is. Unwatchable for the most part.

[@tplouffe9226]

​@@bmsuperstar1You do realize you are the exact problem Johnny is talking about in this video...

[@bmsuperstar1]

@@tplouffe9226 Nope. I'm just spitting facts. Even guys running the league admitted that Curry simply wouldn't be able to play old school basketball. The rules were different, the philosophy was different, players were different, the game was different. It was a grown man's sport back then. Curry can't handle that kind of hard contact. He gets body slammed once or twice, and his soft ass is getting carried out in a bucket. Same goes for KD, though he'd probably hurt himself. He doesn't need help with that. Ha ha ha

[@tplouffe9226]

@@bmsuperstar1 Thats not true at all though? Dont know who youre watching but ive seen TMac, Gilbert Arenas, Shaq, even MJ say that Steph would have been a problem back in the day. He can easily absord contact these days, and never cries for fouls, dont know what you're watching to be honest. Maybe 2012 Steph, but not any date past that.

[@bmsuperstar1]

@@tplouffe9226 You're downright delusional to think that. What kind of contact does he absorb today? Defense is basically non-existent to the point that players can do whatever they want in the paint. Throughout his career, literally NO ONE has ever fouled him even remotely as hard as he would get hit in the past. Literally not one single time for his entire career. Curry is simply soft. As soft as they come.

[@neyhmor]

I watched Oscar Schmidt torch defenders with his 3p game over and over again. About all other players I'm just starting to learn 😅

[@mightytaconerds7919]

Great video! Would you ever do a video on the offenses of Bill Russell’s Celtics? We hear that they are all time great defensive teams, but I’ve hardly heard anything about their offenses and they’ve got over a decade of dominance, so there could be some interesting variation/growth offensively in that period.

[@youwontlikethistake]

We’re currently witnessing the most overrated player in the history of the game continue to be praised, all while constantly falling short when it matters. Chris Paul being dubbed the “Point God,” despite not even being a Top 15 Point Guard of All-Time, is happening right before our eyes.

[@strongbone9471]

This is the worse take anyone can give.

[@franagustin3094]

Cp3 is a top 10 pg of all time but yes, he is overrated. Doncic will be better all time and Ja could reach his level if he would be serious and not a fake gangsta

[@uberneanderthal]

If you saw Shaq play then you know he got away with offensive fouls pretty much every time he touched the ball. Was he a great athlete? yes. Was he a great basketball player? we'll never know, he only played indoor rugby. But my bet is that he would've been (at best) as good as Dwight Howard had he been officiated fairly, which is probably why he hates Dwight so much.

[@melvynsngltn27]

He was hacked nearly every time he touched the ball. Guys who actually played NBA basketball such as Allen Iverson, Reggie Miller and Byron Scott

[@uberneanderthal]

@@melvynsngltn27 yeah, that's the classic excuse "well he got fouled, too". the rules changed to indoor rugby whenever Shaq touched the ball. who do you think that favored? the 350lbs Goliath, or the David that had to guard him?

[@melvynsngltn27]

@uberneanderthal so those NBA players are liars???

[@Theplaystands]

We are currently living through an inflated stats era similar to the 1960s. I think this is the main reason many casuals assume the Jordan and Kobe era were inferior to what we're watching right now. Todays younger fans are obsessed with counting stats and don't realize how much the game has changed.

[@facelessandnameless]

Yup! All the players averaging 30 today would be averaging 24 20 years ago.

[@vat_laaw]

The 98 finals was more akin to a chess match than basketball, saying that to live through it was SO FREAKING COMPELLING. That Jazz team was good, but yeah, Michael faced better with the teams you mentioned, and had the Pacers beat the Bulls in the ECF, Indiana may have taken down Utah in the finals.

[@jamiekelley4076]

I've been recently rewatching NBA games from the 90s and 2000s. I have to say your Shaq take is on the nose. Especially the one with how he gets other teams into foul trouble early forcing teams into heavier rotations and having to go to the bench earlier which leads to even more mismatches for Shaq's teammates to take advantage. I also think people don't understand the second 3-peat bulls. I think the classic image is of rockstars with arguably the greatest scorer of NBA history so people picture them putting up 120 every night but the truth is that second Bull's team was built on playing hardnosed defense not that different to both Bad Boy Pistons teams. Just look at their line up. Rodman was a defensive and rebounding specialist, who also was a Bad Boy Piston at one point lol. Pippen was the main facilitator and was asked to be a lockdown defender on the opposing teams best player. Harper was brought in to be a perimeter defensive specialist who could be a third scoring option when needed. That is three starting players whose primary duty was to lockdown opposing players while not being scoring machines. Most of the Bull's main secondary scoring options came off the bench with Kerr or Kukoc. They were designed to methodically grind down the opposing team and let MJ carry them offensively.

[@wem_iii]

Watching Draymond play is something people will take for granted in the future.

[@naughtbutdoom8020]

Draymond is a dime store Rodman.

[@donaldf9055]

​@@naughtbutdoom8020they play nothing alike huh?????

[@poly_g6068]

Lmfao.

[@satatay23]

The guy who is void if any of his superstars is out. Triple single king.

[@kaminsod4077]

Draymond would've been just another journeyman player if he wasn't drafted to the warriors at the perfect time.

[@southwest1988]

9:37 that fast break is art the pass from Magic to Silk Wilkes 🔥 Showtime Lakers will test you how much in shape you are and will run you to the ground and make you give up by 4th quarter game over !!!!!

[@Odin029]

I LOVE one of the highlights you picked for the Showtime Lakers because it showed that ever so often Kareem would surprise his defender and run the floor even as an older player just to make his guy have to work harder... plus he knew that if he did run on the break Magic would always look to pass him the ball first. On a completely different note... when did Dennis Rodman and Draymond Green become similar players? I mean I like Draymond as a player, but Rodman was an athletic freak of nature on a level that Draymond has never even been close to.

[@andrewcook1246]

If the rules allowed Wilt was to run ppl over like Shaq and he wasn't a gentlemen he would've avg 75pts per game instead of 50 and his career high wouldve been 125. Also Bill's 230 pounds would've given up an extra ring or two with how close those series were. People nowadays avg about the same amount of shots as a team and still no one has come close to 50 a night. Love Wilt.

[@joejett5084]

Shaq wasn’t just big but also had great footwork and a soft touch.

[@mr.kwamid-86_43]

But big, was a major part

[@joejett5084]

@@mr.kwamid-86_43 there’s been plenty of players bigger than shaq and they haven’t even been all stars.

[@basket472]

@@joejett5084 big and blessed. He came with natural agility that Eddy Curry was not blessed with. Yes, the somewhat possession of skill and polish he had rounded things out.

[@cristiandelvillar3121]

I’m so happy that I’m not the only one who’s irked when they hear the most dominant title go to Shaq so easily as if Wilt wasn’t a thing

[@guesswhonot1620]

As someone who grew up on college hoops, watching basketball in the NBA today gets incredibly boring. Especially teams like the Warriors.

[@vintagemonte]

You had to be there to witness the 2017 Warriors. Literally unstoppable 😂

[@Janon743]

2017 warriors are (unfortunately) probably the greatest team of all time 😭

[@jonnyarnett]

Agreed. It wasn’t even fair, and you could see that literally in their first game together

[@projoebiochem]

I still insist that they way referees called the game in Shaq's era benefitted him greatly. He had the worst footwork of any of the great post players, and didn't really have a signature move other than his dunk. He shuffled his feet on almost every catch, which would have been called a travel in most other generations, and he usually went through the defender instead of by or around, which would have been a charge in other eras. The Wilt Chamberlain Archive has a really good video about how changes in the way referees called the game affected the way each could play. Things Shaq did routinely were clearly charging fouls in earlier generations (and should have been then - defending established defensive position should be one of referees primary responsibilities).For example, look at Darryl Dawkins - 6'11"/260 in the '70s and 80s, and probably more skilled than Shaq. He could't do in the late 70s and early 80s what Shaq did years later because the referees just wouldn't let him. Strength was less of an advantage at that time. Shaq is the player that it is most difficult to translate to another time to other standards of refereeing. If he couldn't just bull through defenders, what is his go-to offensive move? He would still have been a rebounding monster, and in spite of his lack of defensive discipline, he still would have been a great rim protector, but his offensive game suffers greatly in any other era. As for why smaller strong defenders gave him trouble, this is a phenomenon that any post player understands. Rodman and Wallace (and Barkley at times) could get under Shaq's center of gravity and put their pressure on Shaq's hips and thighs instead of his back. That takes away some of his leg force. They also could get lower so that when Shaq turned, his shoulder passed over their shoulders, so he couldn't get the shoulder to chest push that he got on bigger defenders. Even though they couldn't challenge Shaq's shot at the top, they could keep him farther away from the basket than taller defenders sometimes could (the Mutombo clip in the WCA video or Rik Smits, for example). Since he really didn't have any great go-to shot, that left Shaq flipping lower-percentage hooks at the basket.

[@the49thlaw]

Great video! i'm now a life long fan!

[@vanlifewithsteve9875]

Shaq was the main reason for one of only three teams to threepeat since the 60s Celtics and he's the largest human I've ever seen in person. That Bulls team had three of the best defenders in league history. With Harper, they were probably the best perimeter defensive team of all time. The Jazz basically threw in the towel mid third quarter which made the score worst than it otherwise would have been. The same Jazz team swept Shaq's Lakers in that season's west conference finals and did go onto win another game in the series. We all know how close game 6 was. Those Jazz teams were certainly respected in their time and I don't remember any criticism of Stockton, Malone, or Jerry Sloan "not being able to win the big one." Jordan was just that good and everyone understood it. Draymond Green is a hard-nosed player for the modern era and he showed up for Game 7 against the Cavs when Curry and Klay didn't, but all of the current players benefit enormously from what previous generations built for them and they need to respect it.

[@sambeaumont395]

IMO playing in a fast break oriented system makes assists much easier. The defence is usually back pedalling, your teammates are more aggressive in attacking, less stagnation. Magic is pushing the pace with Worthy and Wilkes, Cooper and Scott running on the wings.

[@projoebiochem]

Most teams would like to break to get easier shots, but since things are less organized, turnovers are usually a problem. Magic’s decision-making on the move was phenomenal.

[@Harun-cd6jz]

Im glad that you mentioned the pace of play in the 90s because the slower pace of play actually makes Jordan's statistical numbers more impressive. This also makes every player in the 90s who averaged 20+ ppg even more impressive in my opinion. Jordan averaged 30 a game in an era where the total game average was 95 ppg so he accounted for 1/3 of his team's scoring. That's impressive. This also makes guys like Hakeem, Malone, Barkley, Clyde, Tim Hardaway, Penny, Shaq, David Robinson etc even more impressive because all of these guys were putting up numbers in a slower paced era and without shooting 3 pointers. The scoring averages in the modern 3 point era is actually LESS impressive to me because you dont have to make as many shots to reach 20 points now. For example, if you hit 4 three pointers that's already 12 points. But a jump shooter or post player in the 90s would have had to make 6 shots to reach 12 points. Since a jump shot or dunk only counts as 2 points, players had to make MORE shots in the 90s to hit 20-25 points in a game. That's why a person averaging 20 now is less impressive because they can accumulate points quicker because the 3 point shot is literally boosting their stats from a mathematical prospective.

[@aaanawaleh]

The defensive rules were different in those days too and favoured offensive players with all the 1v1 matchups they had back then. Today's defenses are zonal and aren't iso like they used to be.

[@ozAmbiguous]

Great video. Earned yourself a subscriber

[@august6281]

NICE VIDEO man!! (uploaded 15 seconds ago) that is because i knew how objective Jonny is