Jimmy Butler Admits the Game Has Changed in the NBA: “I Wish It Would Go Back to That Time”

Throughout the 75 seasons in the NBA, the steady change of players, styles, and rules has always made for an exciting game for fans. Since the age of the three-inch inseam, the game has evolved dramatically, resulting in a vastly different playing style. In reaction to a very physical, large man’s game, the three-point shot and the abolition of hand and forearm checking were used.

However, Jimmy Butler would welcome the return of the physical type of basketball that the NBA was renowned for a few decades ago. The kind that featured more banging under the basket, contact on the perimeter, and hard fouls that, in the right circumstances.

Heat

Especially if the Heat were playing the Knicks during the height of their rivalry, occasionally resulted in fist flyings rather than the push-fests that are so prevalent in today’s NBA. Jimmy still believes that more scuffles in the games are needed to get the rivalries at their finest, despite leading one of the fiercest playing teams under the supervision of Pat Riley, the “Godfather” himself.

Jimmy Butler says he wants more brawls in the NBA

Heat

“I don’t think so. There are some real rivalries out there. I just think the game has changed in a lot of ways. They’re not letting you get into no brawls no more. Nobody’s going to let you do that. I wish that they would let us do that a bit, if I’m just being honest, I really do think they’re still there.” Jimmy Butler told Complex Sports.

“The game has just changed. It’s not as much banging and knocking people to the ground anymore. You can’t do it like that—you get a flagrant 1, a flagrant 2, a tech, something. I wish it would go back to that time.”

Miami Heat’s 35-20 this season

The Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat cruised to a 121-100 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night, led by Bam Adebayo‘s 21 points and Jimmy Butler’s 19. Miami (35-20) improved to 3-2 on a six-game road trip with their third straight victory.

Three-pointers were the difference. The Heat went 18 for 32 from long range (56.3 percent), while the Wizards went 7 for 31. (22.6 percent ). Miami, which had never trailed, embarked on a 22-1 run early in the fourth quarter to grab a 98-70 lead.