For those long-term followers of the NBA, you would know the game has changed.

The players today are the most skilled and most athletic the NBA has ever seen. The players are explosive – they are continuous highlight reels. Fancy dunks, flashy passes, slick handles all combine with the evolution of sports science allowing a greater longevity in the game.

Sadly though, we don’t see these athletes enough. The American shoot-first mentality which is spreading to leagues across the world is driving the game.

You only need to look at the Celtics. This season Boston have both the most threes made in NBA history at 1370 and counting, and the most missed threes in NBA history at 2348 with a few matches left in the regular season.

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Early this season a Bulls vs Hornets game tallied a combined 75 (22/97) threes, setting a record. These two teams would meet again later in December and demolish their new record attempting a combined 103 threes and making a total of 28.

It is no surprise then with the rise of the three-ball that we are experiencing higher scores than ever before. It’s not just the threes though that is causing this.

Sixers centre Joel Embiid. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Less use of shot clock and more shots is a factor as is the lucklustre defence the modern game has adapted.

It’s the James Harden D that many have adopted. How many open dunks do we see in the game? How many cherry pickers do we see? Those athletes who get easy buckets not running back on D.

We know they can play defence when it matters. We see it in the FIBA competitions. Teams playing like teams. A variety of defensive strategies and formations used. Great offensive sets that don’t involve just jacking threes. FIBA basketball is entertaining. It’s high-quality basketball.

So, it begs the question, why don’t these athletes play like they can at the international level? What is the cause of the NBA problem?

The answer: Business.

It’s the power the NBA has given what is ultimately the employees. Yes, they are the stars and faces of organisations on the court. The reason people watch and support, but they have been given incredible power.

In a world where most are losing their rights, NBA athletes are flourishing. They are being paid ludicrous, record-breaking amounts, and being treated like owners. It’s Jimmy Butler getting suspended for ‘detrimental conduct’. It’s Joel Embiid not playing with a ‘knee injury’. (Whilst at some point there was a clear knee injury that needed surgery, we know more has happened there.)

If I choose to not go to work, I don’t get told to just sit it out. I lose my job. And I don’t get paid in the process.

It’s the influence LeBron James has in the league and who coaches him. It’s the sacking of Denver coach Michael Malone three games before the playoffs.

Teams don’t simply fire the coach with the fourth longest tenure of any active head coach. The one with the most wins both regular season and playoff wins. Or the coach who gave them their only championship; without a voice being heard somewhere else. Sure, they had lost a few games in a row, but they were sitting fourth and missing an injured star in Jamal Murray.

The NBA has become a flourishing, lucrative enterprise and the players hold all the power. They changed the game in how it is played.

They changed the game in how we treat coaches. And as long as they are filling the seats and the NBA is making a turnover, we are going to continue to see a high turnover in roster and coaching staff.