The rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. This is a common thought that comes to American minds when thinking of our country’s capitalist structure. I’m not talking about the economy, though. I’m talking about the National Basketball Association (NBA). Specifically, the egregiously large salaries in the NBA.

The NBA is actually starting to mirror our own economy. As aspects of life such as education, health insurance and general housing become more expensive and less accessible, people are struggling to find more niche approaches for self-sufficiency. Many American citizens believe that previous time periods of our country were simpler, and the same certainly rings true for the NBA.

In the early 20th century, basketball was a game mainly composed of fundamental playing styles that included mid-range jump shots, layups and defense. Players like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had such natural physical prowess, in addition to their skill, that they were constantly dominating their era. Players like Jerry West and Bob Cousy had a better understanding of passing and dribbling than most of their peers, enabling them to swerve through lanes however they wanted. In relativity, this was all astonishing and should be looked back on with the utmost appreciation, but everything changed in 1979.

This was the year that the NBA implemented the three-point line. Three-pointers began as a novelty for players like Larry Bird to dominate All-Star Weekend contests. It did not become a significant part of basketball’s mainstream play style until the 90s.

Players like John Starks, Dennis Scott and especially Reggie Miller started making three-pointers fundamental parts of their game. In Larry Bird’s last season leading the league in three-pointers made, he had made 90 of them. In Dennis Scott’s first season leading the league in three-pointers made, he had made 267 of them. This quantitative discrepancy was only separated by about a decade and indicated the dynamic future of basketball.

While players like Ray Allen, Peja Stojakovic, and Kyle Korver had their three-ball define their games, progressively normalizing the shot, Antoine Walker is really the one who should be scrutinized when comparing our modern game to turn of the century. Antoine Walker was a 6’8’’ power forward who led the league in three-pointers made in the 2000–2001 season. Aside from Larry Bird, three-pointers were seen as primarily a shot for guards to take. Centers and power forwards typically stayed around the paint and worked on their post-moves and defense. During the 90s, big men such as David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal made this distinction abundantly clear. Antoine Walker is a primary example of how the concept of what defines a big man became blurred.

So, what is that definition? There isn’t one. Players like Chris Bosh, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic could be seen waltzing around the perimeter as much as they are in the paint. Jokic has made almost 100 threes this year (as of April 3, 2022) and is simultaneously averaging 13.6 rebounds per game, a career high. The one-dimensional overpowering rim general is now of the past. It has become essential for players to be able to shoot to create more dynamic offenses. The same skills expected from a point guard are now expected among the other four players on the floor. This niche space is prime territory for multitalented specialists to thrive.

Since everybody can now shoot three-pointers, someone who is particularly elite at the skill has unparalleled value that often skews their general objective value as a player. While Duncan Robinson began undrafted, he developed into one of the best sharpshooters in the league with incredible speed. In just his second season with the Miami Heat, he made almost four three-pointers per game, shooting them at a phenomenal rate of about 45%. This past offseason, he was finally able to test free agency and eventually raked in an $80 million contract from the Miami Heat. Is he actually worth that amount? No. Would he have gotten that amount of money from another team? Probably not, but he is worth that amount to Miami because they do not want him heading to another championship contending team. The Heat have invested a large sum of money to compete with other teams at their same caliber.

In contrast, players like Deandre Ayton have the opposite enamor in contract negotiations. While Ayton is not a proficient shooter, he fits the same prototypical big-man mold that is now missing in our current game. Such centers have become so scarce to the point where he is able to demand a max contract, while he would not even have come close to that in previous eras of the sport.

Considering contracts as lucrative as the ones now handed out to three-point sharpshooters, teams can only afford to give priority to a few big names. This effectively leaves many mid-level NBA players scraping for even minimum-level contracts, such as capable players like Otto Porter Jr. and Malik Monk.

As basketball continues to revolve around the three-pointer, we could possibly see a regression to former tactics to shock this achieved normalcy. Players like DeMar DeRozan, with a virtually non-existent three-pointer, have shown that you can still dominate the game with a seemingly “outdated” playing style consisting of mid-range shots and driving to the hoop. The current reality, though, is that three points is ultimately more valuable than two, and that concept will continue to perpetuate throughout the game of basketball until further notice. Salaries will be determined accordingly.