Over the past 10 years we have seen the level of play in the NBA improve and change dramatically. I'm not only talking about the skills of the players, but I'm also talking about the overall athleticism.
Take a player like LeBron James for example. 10 to 15 years ago, a player like him would be in the post period, but in today's game LeBron can play positions 1-through-4.
In the future, we will only see things like this happening more and more often — and I don't think it's too far-fetched to say that the 360 dunk will soon be replaced by the 720 dunk.
In this article, I will share with you a few very concrete possibilities and a few wild assumptions of where this game is headed.
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7-Foot Point Guards
This might not be too far off into the future.
As of writing this article, ESPN has Frank Kaminzky ranked as the No. 1 college basketball player in the country, and fairly so.
This guy is 7 feet tall and can do it all, even though he is listed as a forward. In high school, he even played some point guard when his team had a few unexpected injuries. In time, players just like Kaminzky will be tempted even more to bring the ball up.
Just look at Magic Johnson. He was listed at 6-foot-8, and today’s NBA has some freakishly tall guards as well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is 6-foot-11, is a perfect example, along with Kevin Durant and Josh Smith. Unfortunately for this argument’s sake, none of those guys are point guards though.
Here are a few true point guards who are tall enough to reach into the cookie jar.
Shaun Livingston: 6-foot-7
Tyreke Evans: 6-foot-6
Jamal Crawford: 6-foot-5
John Wall: 6-foot-4
Okay, okay, no one is 7 foot yet, but I see it coming. AndI think you can agree that it will happen someday, somewhere.
A Women's Dunk Contest
15 years ago, a woman actually dunking the basketball was a myth or legend. In today’s game, women better not jump with Brittney Griner, because she has proven that you will get dunked on.
It’s not just her either. The first dunk ever by a woman, in a game, was on December 21st, 1984 by Georgeann Wells.
Players such as Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Michelle Snow and Tudy Reed can all dunk the basketball on a regular basis when in their prime.
So, the question is not, “Can women dunk?” now. It is now, “How well can women dunk?”
At this point in time, it’s not well enough to have a dunk contest. However, in time that will change and I am confident to say that I will witness the first all women’s dunk contest in my lifetime.
Deeper 3-Point Line
Out of all the lines on a basketball court, you’re most likely to walk into a gym and see old reminisces of what was once the 3-point line and now is a stain on the court.
The reason for that is that the distance of the 3-pointer has changed many different times at many different levels.
From 1980 to 1994, the 3-point line was 23 feet, nine inches from the front of the basket and 22 feet at the corners in the NBA. After a few seasons of low-scoring averages, the NBA decided to move the 3 point line closer to try and improve that.
From 1995 to 1997, the 3-point line was 22 feet around the entire basket. In the following season (1998), the league brought back the 3-point line back to its original distance, and it has remained there ever since.
If you have ever tried to shoot an NBA 3-pointer, then you know just how deep that shot is. So for them to make it even further would be tough. However, at other levels I can definitely see the 3-point line moving back.
American high school players have it the best. That is officially the closest 3-point line that exists, at only 19 feet and nine inches from the center of the basket.
Youth players in Europe or any other FIBA-regulated countries have to shoot from the FIBA line, which is much deeper. The FIBA 3-point line is 22 feet, two inches all the way around, which lengthened from 20 feet, six inches in 2010.
Even the college line was pushed back in 2007 from 19 feet, nine inches to 20 feet, nine inches.
So, what’s next? My guess is that the high school line will move back to college and college will move back to FIBA.
Who knows, maybe they eventually will move back the NBA line as well as we see 7-foot point guards creep into the league and we celebrate the first ever women’s dunk contest.
The fact of the matter is that the game is evolving every year, and someday basketball players might wear helmets so they don’t hit their head on the rim.
Either way, I’ll still be watching.
Augie Johnston is the founder of Baller Boot Camp which is one of the top resources online to help players and coaches improve. After a successful college career, Augie went on to play six years professionally in Europe and now trains players full time.
