“You didn’t just have to play basketball, you had to stand up” – Rick Fox shares what made the 90s NBA so different in terms of physicality to the modern-day league originally appeared on Basketball Network.
One of the biggest reasons why a chunk load of former NBA players repeatedly trash how the game is played today is because of the difference in physicality. Back in the day, particularly during the 90s to early 2000s, physicality was utilized as a competitive advantage, unlike today, where it feels like a disadvantage depending on how it’s officiated.
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Take it from former Los Angeles Lakers role player Rick Fox, who prides himself as one of the most physical players during his era.
“For me, it was always imma beat you up in the first quarter. You either go away or just gonna rest for 48 minutes and I was okay with that, I respected someone who would throw one back,” said Fox in his latest appearance on the “Hot 97.”
It wasn’t just all about basketball
Part of the reason the NBA has abandoned physicality is to protect its players and allow the offensive aspect of the game to shine, which has indeed come into fruition. Several rules were made to implement this, such as removing defenders’ ability to hand-check and making referees more stern regarding how they call regular fouls, especially flagrant fouls.
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Fox hates that it’s come to this because it robs players who lean towards physicality from their own advantage and the game within the game that those like the three-time champion thrived in.
“The era of the 90s and 2000s yeah, you didn’t have to just play basketball, you had to stand up. If someone tested you, you only go one or two ways. You either step up to it or lose your edge. I was constantly fighting. I was someone who was going to step up and I respected that,” said Fox.
Who played with the same physical edge
When asked who played with the same physical edge as him, the former 6’7 ft forward said it was no other than Matt Harpring during his days with the Utah Jazz as well as Hall of Famers like Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley. Fox believes that part of what made them such impactful players was their ability to not only be physical on the court but also get into their opponents’ heads, which was a significant skill that not everyone on the court could do.
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Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case in this modern-day league, and the most affected by this are role players like Fox, who aren’t naturally gifted offensive players but have the physical and mental tools to make their impact and presence felt. According to Fox, physicality made the game back in the day more competitive and hardcore, to the point that one’s health and skillset weren’t the only assets that mattered, contrary to what it is today.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.