If you've ever listened to a fan of 1990s basketball lament the current state of the game, you've heard the complaint: why are the tallest players always hovering near the three-point line? This common gripe in sports bars and barbershops gained significant weight when it came from a legendary voice in the front row of NBA history: Snoop Dogg.
From Hip-Hop Icon to Basketball Purist
The iconic rapper and lifelong Los Angeles Lakers die-hard recently delivered a blunt and frustrated critique of the NBA's perimeter obsession. Snoop Dogg is far from a casual celebrity observer. He grew up watching the eras of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and later, Shaquille O'Neal. For him, the evolution towards positionless basketball feels less like strategic progress and more like the abandonment of the sport's physical, gritty soul.
His critique goes beyond simple nostalgia. Snoop understands that true post play isn't just about standing a tall player in the centre. It's a calculated offensive advantage where using one's body and drawing contact from defenders was a fundamental skill. Following his viral Olympic commentary with Kevin Hart, Snoop brought his sharp broadcasting skills to the NBA hardwood during the Monday night game between the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome.
A Viral Rant During the Warriors-Clippers Broadcast
Joining NBC/Peacock announcers Terry Gannon and Reggie Miller for the second half, Snoop Dogg didn't hold back. His most pointed frustration was aimed at the apparent disappearance of the post-up game. Watching a clear mismatch unfold, he exclaimed, "Oh, this straight mismatch right here. Get the ball up and go down. Go down. Go down. They don't play the way I did in the '80s. You are supposed to go down and set up…post up, man. Come on, Big fella! You’re 7 feet tall. Go on the paint."
He capped off his rant with a resigned, "This is what basketball has become," followed by knowing laughter. For Snoop, who witnessed the physical intensity of '80s and '90s basketball firsthand, the game is missing its grit. He wants to see the elbows in the post and the sheer dominance of a center who understands that a seven-foot frame is a physical cheat code meant to dominate near the basket, not a reason to become an oversized shooting guard.
The Bigger Picture: A Loss of Diversity in Play
Snoop Dogg's commentary highlights a deeper concern: the loss of strategic diversity in basketball. When every player, from point guard to center, primarily operates from the perimeter, the unique roles that once defined the league's positions blur into homogeneity. The traditional big man was the team's anchor and enforcer, the player who commanded the paint and engaged in punishing one-on-one battles.
While the NBA's three-point revolution is firmly entrenched and unlikely to reverse, voices like Snoop's serve as a poignant reminder of the game's dramatic evolution. They recall the raw excitement generated by a dominant post player going to work. However, it's impossible to refute how the three-point line has fundamentally altered the game's strategic landscape. Ultimately, Snoop Dogg is speaking for a generation of purists who believe that the shortest, most reliable path to victory is still a straight line to the rim.
