Peja Stojakovic, one of the deadliest sharpshooters of the early 2000s and a former NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks, is the latest to weigh in on the state of the modern NBA, and he isn’t holding back.
Appearing on the NBA Mozzart podcast in his native Serbian, the former Sacramento Kings star expressed his frustration with what he believes is a lack of discipline and structure in today’s game, specifically when it comes to shot selection.
(Translated from Serbian)
"I think everyone is following the same trend now. Everyone plays fast-paced basketball. The only thing that bothers me is... The shot selection really bothers me. The shot selections from certain players bother me. It bothers me that all the players have the green light to shoot every shot. That is one observation of mine."
"Basketball, of course, has progressed every decade. Players obviously improved. They have become more creative, they are better athletes, and I really enjoy watching that basketball."
"The only thing, from a more professional point of view that I could say - respecting that moment and situation, knowing the result and the time, who and when should shoot, and that is something that I look at from a more serious side."
"I would be more pleased if there was that greater discipline, especially at the end of the game, where you know what the priorities are and who the players are and who takes the shot at those moments."
In Stojakovic’s view, the game has become somewhat chaotic because too many players are empowered to be offensive focal points, regardless of their role or timing. While he acknowledges the evolution of the sport, better athletes, more creativity, faster pace, he finds it concerning that the situational awareness around shot decisions has been diluted in favor of freedom and volume.
Peja’s comments come from the perspective of someone who played in a system-heavy era. During his time with the Kings, Stojakovic was a featured option in a well-oiled offensive machine that prioritized ball movement, spacing, and clear hierarchies. Superstars were the closers, and role players had defined responsibilities.
That structure, according to Peja, is what’s often lacking now. In today’s NBA, the rise of analytics and offensive versatility has led to an environment where nearly every player is expected to shoot threes, handle the ball, and create their own offense.
While this democratization of skillsets has allowed role players to thrive and made teams harder to guard, it’s also removed some of the order and hierarchy that defined Peja’s era.
There’s merit to both sides of the argument. Today’s pace-and-space offenses do empower more players and reduce burnout for superstars. Teams no longer rely solely on isolation-heavy sets or hero-ball late in games, at least not until the playoffs, where half-court execution becomes more critical.
Still, Peja’s point hits home when you consider how often games now end in rushed threes or questionable pull-ups from deep, sometimes from players who wouldn't have had the green light a decade ago. For purists like Stojakovic, who value game awareness and discipline, this lack of situational control feels jarring.
Even if his views lean old school, there’s wisdom in what he’s saying. Basketball is not just about spacing and shot charts; it’s about timing, decision-making, and understanding your role. And in Stojakovic’s eyes, those fundamentals are being lost.
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