Being a Chicago native, Barack Obama would always choose the Bulls and Michael Jordan’s domination as his favorite. But the former president has seen the evolution of the NBA closely. The league projects skilled players across every position, but the speed of the game has also led to some problems.

“And I wonder sometimes whether that accounts for some of these injuries, soft tissue injuries,” said Obama on the recent All the Smoke podcast, while discussing the players moving a lot to defend today. “Quad, calf, Achilles. For me, the 90s were peak basketball cuz I was here in Chicago and Michael and the Bulls. But you watch some of those old classics, they’re tough, and folks are physical, and you know, there weren’t really flagrant fouls like you basically had to fend for yourself.

“But folks just aren’t shooting that many threes. So everything’s kind of packed in the paint. People are coming and bringing it down. And so now the amount of wear and tear just seems a lot, a lot because even the big guys can shoot now.”

The addition of three-point shooting forces defenders to cover significantly more ground across the entire court. So, the modern players have to rely on one-footed explosive movements, contrasting with older eras where players operated off two feet. This shift drastically increases the sheer physical stress on the lower extremities. Other soft tissue injuries, such as hamstring strains, are also increasing in frequency.

There were 22 hamstring injuries in the first month of this season, up from 15 in the first month of 2021-22, as per Sportico. The 2025 postseason served as perhaps the clearest example yet. Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton suffered season-ending Achilles tendon tears or ruptures, dealing with lingering calf strains or pain.

Throughout recent seasons, stars including Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Jimmy Butler, Luka Doncic, and numerous others have missed extended stretches due to knee, calf, hamstring, quad, or ankle injuries. During this post-season, hamstring injuries repeatedly interrupted Jalen Williams’ season and affected the Thunder during the playoffs.

Similarly, Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles during the playoffs and is expected to miss a significant portion of the following season. So, playing defence and guarding full court takes a toll. While highlighting the problem, Barack Obama even credited the reigning unanimous DPOY for his display on the hardwood.

Barack Obama praised Victor Wembanyama

Wemby and San Antonio lost the NBA Finals 1-4, but throughout his postseason debut, the Spurs star set records like any other. The season average of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game only validates his domination on both sides. Barack Obama saw Wemby during the All-Star weekend from courtside and was equally in awe.

“The way he was playing, I think Wemby will end up being as good as we’re projecting. I watched him at the All-Star Game. It was the first time I’d seen him live. And I don’t remember somebody that big moving like that,” Obama said on All The Smoke. “Playing defense today is so much harder because you have to close out everything. So it used to be that you planted yourself in the paint and you were a rim protector. But I’m watching him on defense now. The way they’re using him, he’s in the paint and then trying to close out to a three-pointer.”

Wembanyama’s agility to move on the court despite being a big man proves what Barack Obama saw. While the evolution of the NBA demands more energy and athleticism, Wemby’s unorthodox and anomalous playstyle perfectly aligns him for more success.