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Hours After Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant’s Scary Fall, Former NBA Champion Clowns Off Dubious Take On League’s Rules

Published 04/18/2023, 10:30 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Over the years, the NBA’s rules and regulations have undergone various changes. The league has undertaken a variety of measures to enhance the quality of the game, its safety, and its fairness. The NBA’s rule revisions have often prompted heated discussions in the NBA community. As an aftermath of Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s recent injuries, a recent hot take regarding a potential rule change gained a lot of traction on the Internet. However, a former NBA Champion clowned the dubious take on NBA rules.

Zach Harper from The Athletic recently offered a take on a potential rule change to prevent injuries. Washington Wizards star Kyle Kuzma took to Twitter to clown Harper’s dubious take.

Kyle Kuzma clowns a dubious take on a potential rule change

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Zach Harper, a writer for The Athletic, has sparked debate in the NBA community by advocating the elimination of charges from the league. Charges, in his view, are not pure basketball moves. Harper claims that the improved athleticism of players in the modern era is reducing the defensive effectiveness of the act of taking a charge in basketball. The charge involves a defensive player setting up a legitimate guarding position in front of an offensive player, who then runs into them and prompts a foul.

via Imago

It also implies that it is now harder for defenders to keep in front of their opponents and prepare for a charge. It is because today’s athletes are faster and more explosive. The charge now serves more as a “bailout call” for defenders who have been outplayed and are left with little choice but to attempt to stop the offensive player.

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Keeping in mind that the take resulted after Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo got injured, some basketball fans sided with Harper. However, others argued that charges are a genuine defensive strategy that has long been used in the sport. Former NBA champion, Kyle Kuzma also reacted to this controversial take that has triggered a heated discussion on the Internet.

Kuzma took to Twitter to react to a tweet carrying Harper’s quote. The tweet quoted Zach Harper detailing his reasons for banning charges. The 2020 NBA champion added a bunch of ‘clown’ emojis, highlighting the ridiculousness of the take.

Read More: “Can We Stop Changing Rules?”: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant’s Injuries Bring Out Controversial Take Leaving NBA Twitter Divided

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Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant sustain injuries

Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies dropped their opening games in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. To make matters worse, their key players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant also took huge hits that might have an effect on their playoff runs. Antetokounmpo sustained a back injury during his first round matchup. His injury’s extent is not known, but it might significantly affect the Bucks’ prospects moving forward in the playoffs.

Watch This Story: “Ja F*cked Up On This One”: Despite No Doing Of Her Own, Ja Morant’s Girlfriend Gets Dragged Into Slander Amid Saga

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Similarly, during the Grizzlies’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Ja Morant and Anthony Davis collided. Morant stepped up for an easy basket, but the collision sent him sprawling on the floor in pain. It is likely that Ja Morant won’t play in Game 2 against the Lakers.

Considering the recent injuries on the court, it is yet to be seen if the league will adopt any new changes prioritizing the players’ health. Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on Zach Harper’s take? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Ranjitha Ramesh

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Ranjitha Ramesh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Ranjitha has a strong foundation in reporting and writing. Her passion for basketball, particularly the Lakers and LeBron James, fuels her desire to delve into the lifestyle and off-court activities of NBA stars.
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Edited by:

Satagni Sikder