Stephen Curry’s three-point revolution is both a blessing and a problem for the NBA, says Matt Barnes

Stephen Curry has changed the game of basketball with his unmatched three-point shooting, turning the NBA into a quick, long-range sport. Former teammate Matt Barnes, during an appearance on Big Boy's "The Hangout" podcast, referred to Curry’s influence as both a blessing and a curse.In the episode titled "S1 E4 - Matt Barnes - Steph Curry Lakers Lebron All the Smoke," which was released on YouTube, Barnes shared with host Kurt Alexander that Curry’s approach has revolutionized the game but has also caused players to focus too much on three-pointers, which has led to a decline in traditional skills.Stephen Curry's incredible three-point skills have changed basketball and has added a new level in the game. While looking at the history we see that players like Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan ruled the paint, while Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant excelled with their mid-range game.Stephen Curry's shooting and long-range ability made the three-pointer a key tool, leading to the rise of the 'pace-and-space' era. The average points scored per game in the NBA increased from 100.0 in 2013-14 to 114.7 in 2023-24, while three-point attempts surged from 22.4 to 34.8 per game. Barnes mentioned to Big Boy, "Steph...totally transformed it. It's not just the NBA, but the entire way basketball is played, period," motivating a focus on skill worldwide.Barnes points out a downside: players think they can copy Curry, which results in them depending too much on three-pointers. “Steph was a gift and a curse to this game because everyone thinks they could do it,” he told Big Boy.This mentality has standardized basketball, leading players to prefer 25-foot shots rather than driving, a trend that Barnes labeled as the “Steph Curry and Klay Thompson effect.” He highlighted that although Curry and Thompson are exceptional shooters, "everyone believes that shooting the three-pointer is crucial for success," which limits the variety in the game.The three-point revolution has marginalized back-to-the-basket big men. Barnes told Big Boy, “Are the big men gone? Yeah…There’s no more back-to-the-basket.” Today's stars such as Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid combine outside shooting with their height, which is different from classic centers like O’Neal. “You see the Embiids…Jokic…those would be back-to-the-basket centers. But now you see these guys…shooting threes,” Barnes mentioned that while there's more versatility now, he's sad to see post-up play fading away. He hinted that this trend could come back around, but right now, traditional big men are like "unicorns."Also Read: Kawhi Leonard chose Los Angeles Clippers over Los Angeles Lakers to dodge LeBron James and $28M payoutFrom the physical 1980s to the soaring 2000s, basketball has constantly changed. According to Barnes in his chat with Big Boy, Curry’s three-point era has made the game more skillful but less varied, with his legacy influencing its future direction.