Are the rise in huge offensive performances actually bad for the NBA?

Less than halfway through the 2022–23 season, the NBA has seen an unprecedented number of huge scoring performances. In fact, there have already been 14 50-point-plus performances thus far this season, which is on pace to surpass the 19 such performances from a season ago.

However, is that a good thing for the NBA? On the surface, the obvious answer is yes, since it draws attention to the NBA, particularly through social media. On the other hand, at what point do 50-point games go the way of no-hitters in baseball? No-hitters were previously one of the more hallowed feats in sports, but they have become increasingly common, taking away some of the prestige.

The same could be said for 50-point games. On January 2, Klay Thompson scored a staggering 54 points but didn’t even score the most points that night. Instead, that honor went to Donovan Mitchell, who dropped 71 points, the most since Kobe Bryant’s 81 in 2006. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid each scored at least 42 points on the same night. The very next night, Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 55 points.

What’s with the NBA’s sudden scoring explosion?

The most likely answer is the increased reliance on 3-pointers. not just from players but from teams in general. Currently, there are 11 teams that are taking at least 35 threes per game and three that are launching at least 40. That means much more spacing than ever before, and it’s making it far harder to double-team the league’s best offensive players.

Additionally, superstars have become much better at creating separation and knocking down threes. For instance, Thompson drained 10 threes in his 54-point game, while Mitchell connected on seven of them en route to 71. Even 10 years ago, it was uncommon for players to frequently attempt that many threes, let alone knock down that many.

Opposing defense’s inability to send doubles without giving up open threes has resulted in teams playing smaller and favoring quickness over height alone. Gone are the days when teams consistently started two 7-footers in an attempt to wall off the paint. Instead, teams prioritize switchable lineups, which can be effective but also have resulted in a significant increase in 2-point percentage league-wide.

Taking and making a high volume of threes and shooting a higher percentage on twos is a potent combo, and it’s led to this offensive explosion. Barring a dramatic change, such as the NBA moving the 3-point line back and eliminating corner threes, this offensive renaissance will likely only continue.

After all, ratings are largely up over last season, and the excitement surrounding the NBA is a result of the 2K-esque numbers that its stars are putting up. If those ratings were to eventually crater, then that could result in the NBA trying to level the playing field between offense and defense. They haven’t, so fans can expect more explosive offensive displays.