Shaq blames Stephen Curry, the “new era of man,” for the NBA becoming “boring” and viewership declining

There’s no question that Stephen Curry’s 3-point ability changed basketball forever, but one NBA legend says it was for the worse.

The NBA saw a decline in viewership at the start of the 2024-25 season, and Shaquille O’Neal believes it’s because everyone is playing the same style of basketball and shooting the three-pointer.

“It’s bad because we see the same thing. Everybody runs the same plays,” Shaq recently said on his podcast.

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O’Neal then specifically mentioned Curry.

“Steph Curry and those guys screwed up. I don’t mind that Golden State shot threes back then, but not every team is a 3-point shooter. So why does everyone have the same strategy? I think that’s what makes it.” “Boring game,” O’Neal said.

“The game has been perfect since Naismith created it,” Shaq added. “This new era of humans has messed up. … Golden State came in and changed it.”

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors shoots a 3-point basket during a game against the LA Clippers on Oct. 27, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco. (Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images)

HARRIS SUPPORTER STEPHEN CURRY DOESN’T HAVE A “BILL WILL” AFTER TRUMP’S VICTORY.

“Everyone wants to be Steph Curry, but not everyone is Steph Curry. And that’s why viewership is down. But these guys need to wake up because if the viewership goes down, the money will go down.”

Curry could become the first player in NBA history to make 4,000 3-point shots. Ray Allen, second all-time, managed 2,973.

A look at the all-time 3-pointers list shows many active players and many who have retired within the last 10 years. Buddy Hield, for example, who entered the league in 2016, is already ranked 20th all-time.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry dribbles against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. (Cary Edmondson/USA Today Sports)

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On the first night of the season, the Boston Celtics tied the NBA record with 29 3-pointers made in one game.

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