Defense No Longer Matters in the NBA

MADISON ~ Watch an NBA game today, and you see a blur of possessions. Guards sprint into pull-up threes within seconds of crossing half-court. Big men float to the perimeter instead of battling in the paint. Scores climb past 120 points almost nightly. The pace is relentless, the spacing is wide, and the defense is an afterthought.

I used to love the NBA. In the mid-2010s, I followed it closely, but the game has changed so much that I find myself turning to college basketball instead. College still values defense, toughness, and balance. The NBA has tilted so far toward offense that defense no longer defines the sport.

The numbers back this up. In the 1990s, teams averaged about 101 points per game. By the 2022–23 season, that number had jumped to 114.2, the highest since 1969–70. This season, teams are averaging over 115 points. That is not a small shift. It is a structural change in how the league operates.

Rule changes paved the way. The hand-check ban in 2004 stripped defenders of the ability to steer ball handlers. The defensive three-second violation, introduced in 2001, forced big men out of the paint. Freedom of movement rules protect offensive stars, making it harder to apply physical pressure. Each change tilted the balance toward offense.

Analytics reinforced the trend. Teams embraced efficiency models that reward threes and layups. The Houston Rockets under Daryl Morey became the poster child for this approach, abandoning mid-range shots almost entirely. The Warriors perfected it, turning Stephen Curry’s shooting into a weapon that reshaped the league. Defense was left scrambling to adapt, but the math always favored offense.

Compare eras and the difference is clear. The 1990s New York Knicks built their identity on defense. Patrick Ewing anchored the paint, and the team thrived on physicality. Games were low-scoring, ugly, and tough. That was basketball’s balance. Contrast that with the 2010s Golden State Warriors. Their dynasty was built on offense-first principles. Curry and Klay Thompson stretched defenses to the breaking point. Draymond Green was a defensive leader, but his role was the exception, not the rule. The Warriors won by overwhelming opponents with shooting and pace.

Individual defenders still matter, but they are rare. Jrue Holiday’s perimeter defense, Marcus Smart’s intensity, and Rudy Gobert’s rim protection prove that defense can swing playoff series. Yet these players stand out precisely because defense is no longer the norm. They are specialists in a league that celebrates offense.

The question is what this means for fans. Some enjoy the scoring. Highlight reels are full of threes and dunks, and casual viewers love it. But others, like me, miss the balance. College basketball still rewards defense. Watching a team grind out stops feels meaningful. In the NBA, defense feels optional until the postseason.

This shift raises bigger questions. If defense no longer matters, what happens to the league’s identity? The NBA risks becoming a spectacle of offense without the tension that defense provides. Fans who grew up on gritty battles like Knicks vs. Heat or Pistons vs. Spurs may feel alienated. Younger fans may never know that side of the sport.

The NBA is not unwatchable, but it is unbalanced. Offense dominates, defense survives in pockets, and the game feels different. I loved the NBA when defense mattered. Now, I find myself seeking balance elsewhere. The league has chosen entertainment over equilibrium. That choice attracts casual fans but distances those who value the grind. If defense continues to fade, the NBA will remain popular, but it will no longer feel like the same sport.