Hot Takes of the NBA

Just as the school year has come to a close, we wave goodbye to yet another NBA season as the Oklahoma City Thunder has defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Finals. Filled with surprising breakout players, heartbreaking injuries, and monumental trades, this season has given NBA fans fuel for conversation. However, the debates do not cease with the season’s end; we at the Independent have provided a brief recap of the biggest talking points going into the 2025-26 season.

Foul-Baiting as a Skill?

It is no secret that scoring in the NBA has ramped up over the years. With greater spacing from the preference for three-pointers, a faster pace throughout the league, and, put simply, more skilled offensive talent, teams are scoring at a historic level. With this surge in offense comes much stricter policing of defense, and players who use this trend to their advantage. Many NBA fans claim the strategy of foul-baiting is hurting the league.

But can we blame players for making use of this strategy, and does it actually decrease the validity of their offensive ability? James Harden’s 2018 MVP season in Houston saw immense offensive potency, scoring 30.4 points per game. However, Harden was criticized for defensive liabilities, an abusive and ugly three-point tendency, and a frustrating reliance on “flopping” techniques to get to the charity stripe. In his MVP season, Harden had a Free Throw Rating, which tracks free throw attempts per field goal attempt, of .502. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a forward known for his aggressive finishing at the rim, had a Free Throw Rating of .457 that same season.

This season, MVP-winning Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was criticized for overtly foul-baiting and being rewarded for it. The MVP averaged a league-high 32.7 ppg on 52% efficiency. Indeed, SGA had a Free Throw Rating of .404 this season, and he does make use of the whistle; however, his ability to draw fouls is just another facet of his expansive offensive game. He was only 13th this season in Free Throw Rating.

But foul-baiting, like taking a charge, is a skill. If a player excels at the free-throw line, it would be a poor strategy to not make use of that fact. Why would a three-point specialist resort to contested lay-ups instead of the higher-percentage longball? Beyond the logical reason, foul-baiting requires a level of finesse from the player. SGA does not simply get to the line by asking the ref nicely—he drives and forces contact. Yes, he accentuates much of this contact, but so can the rest of the league. Players like SGA and New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson have mastered maximizing their efficiency and time on the court. Moreover, SGA this year has averaged fewer free-throw attempts than twelve other MVP winners from the past 25 years, including Kobe Bryant, James Harden, and LeBron James.

Personally, I take issue with foul-baiting as a fan, not because I don’t respect the skill, but because it is boring. Players like SGA can score at a high level from anywhere on the court, and as a fan, I would rather watch him make tough buckets worthy of a highlight reel. That being said, I understand and can respect the decision to rely on the whistle.

Bye-Bye to Superteams?

We have long passed the days of the successful superteam. It’s been twelve years since the final stint of Lebron’s Heatles, six since Durant left Golden State. Meanwhile, the two teams in the 2025 finals have much more naturally constructed rosters. While both Oklahoma City and Indiana have made trades to achieve their current lineups, the packages pale in comparison to the haul that the LA Clippers gave for Paul George or the Phoenix Suns for Durant. Instead, both OKC and Indiana have played the draft and made successful trades for great role players.

Why have the superteams failed, and further, why is that a good thing for the NBA? Trading for these big, blockbuster names comes at a huge price. Look at the Suns: picking up Durant and Beal ruined their bench depth and future draft picks. What’s more, the contracts that these stars have negotiated are horrible for the rest of the team. Paul George signed a massive $212 million deal over four years to join the Philadelphia 76ers. He only played half of the regular season, averaged a personal least amount of points in a decade, and failed to help them make the playoffs.

Simply put, building a superteam has become too expensive to reach success. As we have seen from the previous championship winners, a trusty bench lineup goes a long way. Starters get tired or can have a bad day; injecting a couple of bench players to ignite fire is important for enduring the playoffs. 

Moreover, this shift back to more crafted teams is great for the NBA as a whole. Instead of seeing superstars leaving their rookie-year teams, fans can watch as their favorite players stick close to home and bring the franchise to success. While some front offices will fail to provide stars with any backup, this shift might encourage players to resign instead of joining a pre-established team in the face of adversity.

Takeaways

The 2025-26 NBA season begins Oct. 21. With several big names and key role-players projected to enter Free Agency—along with stars looking to be traded to contenders—this offseason promises major roster changes. With Kevin Durant having been traded to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillion Brooks, and a handful of picks, we will again learn if trading for a superstar produces championships (though in this case, the Suns got fleeced).

With ongoing trades and new rookies having just been selected, it is difficult to predict exactly what teams have the best chance to reach the championship. ESPN puts the recent champions as the clear favorite coming from the West while the East is up for taking between the Cavaliers and Knicks. However, a few teams will see their star players returning from injury late into the season. Celtics’ forward Jayson Tatum may return and help propel Boston back into playoff contention. Similarly, Maverick’s point guard Kyrie Irving will return later from his achilles injury and, depending on how the team performs with Cooper Flagg, has the potential to compete with OKC.

With SGA winning both MVP and the championship, much attention (and pressure) will be placed on his shoulders to keep up this pace and win a second MVP. However, will three-time MVP Nikola Jokić continue to put up unbelievable stats and further cement his place in the Hall of Fame? Or will Victor Wembanyama enter into MVP talks with his play?

More importantly, what new debates will the season prompt? Perhaps it will introduce another contender for a place on the list of greatest players, or offer a better indicator of how to construct a winning roster. In any case, we at the Independent will be sure to keep you informed.

Tyler Dang ’28 (tylerdang@college.harvard.edu) will miss having Desmond Bane on his team.