The modern NBA has never been more efficient, more spaced, or more mathematically optimized. It has also, according to one of the most gifted guards of his generation, never been harder to watch. Penny Hardaway’s recent comments criticizing today’s style of play landed with force because they tapped into a debate the league has quietly circled for years: whether progress has come at the expense of joy.
Penny Hardaway Says Modern NBA Lost Its Appeal
Hardaway, a four-time NBA All-Star and now the head coach of the Memphis Tigers in the AAC, did not frame his critique as bitterness or nostalgia. Instead, he framed it as a basketball problem. The game, in his view, has drifted too far from its fundamentals and too heavily toward one shot.
Hardaway said, per the Commercial Appeal: “It’s just not fun to watch anymore,” Hardaway said. “It’s getting worse and worse. Not in a bad way. But for me to watch, because I’m in college, I see the fundamentals and playing team ball. And just shooting all the 3’s now is just a little irritating to me. No one shoots layups anymore.”
At the center of Hardaway’s criticism is the league’s heavy reliance on the 3-point shot. Teams now build their entire offense around spacing the floor and shooting from deep. For fans, it can be exciting. For former players who grew up attacking the basket, it can feel repetitive and detached from the basics of the game.
Hardaway made his comments, touching off another round of debate about where the NBA is headed. His words also followed remarks from San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, who described the Oklahoma City Thunder as playing “ethical basketball” following their high-profile victory in the NBA Cup semifinals.
To be fair, the modern NBA did not change by accident. Players like Stephen Curry completely reshaped the sport by proving that 3-point shooting could be a primary weapon, not a secondary option. Defenses had to stretch farther out, games became faster, and teams got smaller and quicker.
Teams like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are proof. Both rank near the top of the league this season in 3-pointers made, and both are built to compete for championships. The numbers support the approach, and front offices are not interested in going backward.
Still, Hardaway was careful to point out that he does not hate everything about today’s game. In fact, he praised several teams for playing what he considers the “right way.”
“I do love watching (the Oklahoma City Thunder),” Hardaway said. “Not because they’re the best team, but they play the game the right way.” He also mentioned the Celtics, Grizzlies, Knicks, and Timberwolves, highlighting players like Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards.
Oklahoma City stands out because it blends both worlds. The Thunder shoot plenty of 3s, but many come from ball movement and drive-and-kick action. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still attacks the paint as much as any star in the league. He plays with a style that feels familiar to older generations while still fitting today’s spacing-heavy systems.
That balance is what Hardaway seems to be asking for. Not fewer 3s, but more variety and more moments that feel organic instead of scripted. As a coach, Hardaway’s concerns carry extra weight. He is tasked with instilling fundamentals, teamwork, and decision-making in young players who grow up watching NBA highlights dominated by step-back 3s. The way the league presents the game matters.
