by TheChosen1

Created on: January 07, 2011   Last Updated: January 08, 2011

Everything in the world changes for it is the one constant thing in this world. Things either go forward and progress or go backwards and regress. The NBA nowadays is no different. This is simply not your father's or grandfather's league. It has drastically changed a lot from the basketball league of yesteryears. Here are some of the changes that have occurred.

-Disappearance of the big men

The center position used the be the center of the attention around the league as it had a history of legendary big men from George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain to Bill Russell to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Hakeem Olajuwon. Indeed the center position was the focal point of the offense and defense. Lottery picks would almost always be centers or power forwards. Having little guys as number one picks such as Allen Iverson or Derrick Rose would have been unheard of in those days.

Nowadays, there is a dearth of quality big mean in the league. Kareem or Wilt would eat any of these guys for breakfast. The few decent ones that remain are fragile as compared to their indestructible counterparts. Look at the likes of Andrew Bynum, Greg Oden and Yao Ming. They literally spend more time in street clothes than in their basketball uniform.

-Thuganomics

The league has gone from being a place of true gentlemen such as Michael Jordan, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to a den of thugs who go to jail for assault, drug use, DUI and domestic violence. Look at the Jail Blazers. They were a bunch of  degenerates who tarnished the league's reputation. Look at the malice in the palace where several Detroit and Indiana players got lengthy suspensions. Let us not forget the gun firing incidents involving Stephen Jackson.  

Nearly gone are the players who people could emulate on and off the court. Instead, we get these thugs who feel like their hefty pay checks are a right accorded to them. They feel that they do not have to work hard and can do anything that they want. Look at Demarcus Cousins. He is a an athletically gifted big man yet keeps on landing in the dog house because of his disrespect for authority. Look at Vince Carter. He has the athletic abilities of the Jordans and the Kobes of the league but never had the desire. He would just lazily chuck some three balls or ill-advised jumpers.

-No love for the game

If you watch videos of people like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, you feel the passion they have for the game. You hear them say how they loved the game. It was all

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