Is Adam Silver responsible for the present-day alleged softer NBA? There have been multiple instances where former NBA stars and experts have held the present NBA commissioner responsible for the change in the NBA. And most recently, Metta World Peace (fka Ron Artest) has indirectly placed the blame on Silver for making the league go soft. 

Appearing on Podcast P with Paul George, World Peace faced the question of his thoughts on today’s NBA defense compared to how he grew up playing. He stated how every player who retires is a perceived hater of the next generation, but in reality, all he wants is to play. And that’s from where that feeling of “man they soft” for the next generation players emerges. “But I had to catch myself because the rules change. And I’m watching these young guys, and I’m like, hold on. The young guys is not soft. The rules has changed,” the former LA Lakers star said. 

He further gave the example of present-day New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards to further his point. “Look at Anthony Edwards, he a lockdown defender. So I don’t think it’s the players. I think it’s the rules…” he said. In fact, the 2010 NBA champ believes if the nineties rules were to be restored, the fans would see a different game. “A lot of people’s blaming the players. You can’t really blame the players. And I don’t want to call out the rule, the committees, but it’s the rules,” he added. 

Notably, it is well-documented that the present NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, advocates softer NBA rules. In an interview with Kevin Garnett in 2023, Silver stated he believes that around the late 90s, the game was too physical. He thinks increased physicality affects particular skills certain players possess.  

Analyzing Ron Artest’s claim of NBA rules going soft  

It is worth mentioning that Artest (now Metta World Peace) is not the only one to have claimed that NBA rules have gone soft. Seeing the increase in number of fouls and reduced fights on-court, from former Lakers legend Jerry West to former Timberwolves star Rashad McCants and Stephen A. Smith, the list is quite long about veterans and analysts talking on the matter. In fact, McCants, in a conversation with Anton Daniels in 2023, openly stated he dislikes what Silver did with the NBA. 

McCants claimed that the present NBA commissioner led the league in a bad direction in terms of sensitivity. And considering instances like Giannis Antetokounmpo getting ejected because of a stare-down against an opponent, the former Timberwolves star’s claim seems to make sense. Notably, the officiating in recent times has faced severe criticism for being too sensitive about the smallest of things. Meanwhile, the players travel all around the court and no fouls are called. 

Notably, this is something even World Peace mentioned in his recent appearance on Podcast with P. “You know what’s crazy to me? That traveling, though… I don’t understand how somebody could take the ball out and take five. That’s where I’m like, yeah, I’m losing it on the couch,” he said. 

However, the biggest change in terms of the NBA going soft was without any doubt the ban on hand-checking. The ban placed in 2004 made it easier for players to drive and create space. And this‌ allowed for higher offensive freedom while the defense took a hit. What is your opinion of this entire issue? Have the NBA rules gone too soft, and is it time to restore the league to its old state in some senses?