Gilbert Arenas says NBA was softened to allow European players to come / News - Basketnews.com

Arenas said the NBA made a decision to soften the rules to allow more players to fit in, diminishing the physicality that was once the cornerstone of the league.

Credit: Tim Heitman/Getty Images/AFP Credit Tim Heitman/Getty Images/AFP

The NBA has the highest scoring averages in more than 50 years. Gilbert Arenas suggests the league has evolved into a three-point-focused competition because of influence from Europe.

Gilbert Arenas

Position:PG, SGAge:42Height:193 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:Los Angeles, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

In the latest episode of his podcast, Gil's Arena, the former NBA star said the league's desire to gain popularity internationally led to rule changes that changed the game, limiting physicality to allow more players from outside the US to fit in.

"The NBA took away aggression. They took away aggression to open up the EuroLeague. When they first started getting here, it was too rough for them. They didn't make it. Eventually, they softened the rules. They didn't soften the rules for the Americans. They softened the rules to open up international," Arenas said.

"So when they say the euros are going to run the league in the next five years, why do you think that? More threes, passing, cutting - this is not our league, this is not the American style, this is the Euro style. Drive in, suck the defense in, pass the ball to the three-point line."

Arenas remembered the 7-second Phoenix Suns offense, architected by coach Mike D'Antoni, who had previously worked in Europe before establishing himself in the NBA.

"It's a three-point-shooting league because they're copying Euro style. Suns, right? What was the biggest things the Suns didn't do? Defense. Ole, let's go. 'We don't want to foul so we can try and score.' That was the whole thing of D'Antoni. That was what the league was created off of. They want more of these guys in so they can expand the business," Arenas explained.

"You remember pushing 'global game', 'global game'? How do they make it a global game if it's too physical and too athletic for them? So they have to figure out ways how they can exist inside of the game. Create more opportunities, bring in more shooters, so they can survive," the former player said. "These can become shooters. Who is the best Euro that has handles?"

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