The USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt quoted Greg Popovich as saying "its not basketball" when asked about the 3-Point shot.
The NBA adopted the 3-point shot in 1979. 1979. That's 36 years ago.
For a very large portion of the most devout NBA fans, basketball with a 3-point shot is all we've ever known. More importantly, EVERY current NBA player grew up in a world with a 3-pointer. Andre Miller of the Minnesota Timberwolves is the oldest player in the NBA this season. Andre Miller was born in 1976, which means he was three years old when the NBA adopted the 3-point shot. Andre Miller grew up playing basketball with a 3-point shot and so has the rest of the NBA.
Every current player has grown up playing a game where a 3-point shot is an option. THAT game is THEIR basketball. And THEIR basketball is the fan's basketball. When each and every player has developed his abilities to fit a game in which the 3-point shot is a big part, how could we call anything without that major facet basketball?
Perhaps this was Popovich taking a jab at the currently undefeated Golden State Warriors and their leader, the man born for the purpose of shooting three pointers, Stephen Curry. One could argue that the Dubs have been out Spurring the Spurs. Known for their swift ball movement, uncanny team chemistry, and high collective basketball IQ, the San Antonio Spurs invented the most successful approach to winning in the NBA thus far in the 21st century. They have been undoubtedly the most consistent team of the 2000s; in fact, no other team even comes close. When was the last time they didn't win 50 games? I could break to Google it real quick, but its probably been decade at least. Until the 2014-2015 Warriors came along, Popovich and the Spurs had a monopoly and that brand of basketball. The Warriors have not only got in on the action, but they now control the market.
Popovich usually comes across as someone to laugh at the media's sad attempts to make stories out of nothing. With the Spurs having another good season, it seems odd that he would go out of his way to take a shot at anyone rather than just brushing off the media and their dumb questions like he usually does. So it's possible that he's just toying with all of us. Who knows?
What I do know is that the 3-Pointer is as basketball as it gets. It is the most popular shot in a game of pick-up basketball, its popularity is growing amongst the NBA's most successful teams, and through it we have witnessed the rise of our generations MJ.
As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Popovich, basketball with no 3-point shot is not basketball at all.
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