A Standard in the City: Remembering Coach Dave Belmonte

Coach Dave Belmonte helped shape Seattle basketball not only through his wins, but through the players and coaches he mentored. His legacy is woven into the city’s basketball identity.

It’s Not About the Type of Dunks, It’s About Who Is Dunking

The Slam Dunk Contest was never just about the types of dunks being performed. It was about who was dunking. The excitement, the energy, and the cultural significance of the contest have always been tied to the players participating. Legends like Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and Kobe Bryant helped shape the contest into a spectacle. However, in recent years, superstar participation has declined. The NBA has struggled to uphold its traditions, and the dunk contest has lost its prestige. Restoring its status requires bringing back the league’s biggest names to honor the legacy of the event.

Athleticism vs. Rule Changes: The Real Evolution of the NBA

The idea that today's NBA players are far more athletic than those from the 90s is a common narrative, but the data doesn't fully support this claim. NBA Combine results from 2000 to 2019 show little improvement in key athletic metrics like speed, vertical leap, and agility. Instead, rule changes, such as banning hand-checking and legalizing zone defenses, have had a greater impact on the pace and style of the game. These changes created the perception of a faster, more athletic league, even though players' raw physical capabilities have not drastically changed.