Kevin Durant says old NBA ‘seemed a little tougher’

Kevin Durant says old NBA ‘was a little tougher’

The NBA, to some, has gradually become softer compared to past physical decades, but not to one superstar player. Kevin Durant doesn’t seem to agree with the claims that the ’80s and ’90s were more physical than the modern game, per the New York Post.

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Today’s modern NBA seems to be less physical to a lot of people who watched the NBA in the ’80s and ’90s. This may be because of the supposed “soft calls” that players get and complain about them. But Durant has some words for all the people who agree with the idea that ’80s and ’90s basketball was tougher.

“I go back and watch a lot of that ’90s film, ’80s stuff, and they play physical, but I just think they got away with a lot of flagrant fouls,” Durant said, via NYP. “I think that’s why they call their era more physical than ours. Because, guys, we play physical here, too.“

“But I watched some of those games, the paint was clear, nobody was getting touched, it wasn’t a lot of help defense,” Durant said, via NYP. “But you did get a lot of flagrant fouls [that] didn’t result into fines or getting kicked out the game, so it just seemed like it was a little tougher.”

There have been close to 400 technical fouls given out this season in the NBA, with some leading to suspensions. If a player gets over 16 technical fouls called on them in the season, they will receive a one-game suspension. This year, four players have received more than 16 technical fouls with the highest being 18.

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Joe Dumars responds to Durant

Outside of technical fouls, former NBA players frown upon the physicality of the modern NBA. The Bad Boy Detroit Pistons were one of the most physical teams in the ’80s and ’90s. Now, Joe Dumars, member of the Pistons team in the ’80s and ’90s, spoke about the changes of the game.

“The floor is more spread, probably a lot more cutting. All of those things are factual. I don’t think there’s any argument to that,” Dumars said, via NYP. “What it does to the body, I presume, it probably stresses the body as much as anything. I don’t see how someone could argue against that.”

Durant agreed with Dumars’ comment, but denied the physicality in the past NBA.

“There’s more space, but guys play physical,” Durant said, via NYP. “We got strong, athletic guys here, too.”

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