The Thunder wins the championship! The inside rises! Is the small ball era over?

In 2025, after the Thunder won the championship, the NBA seemed to be standing at the crossroads of the changes of the times.

Ten years ago, the Warriors subverted the league with a crazy three-point shooting, and the era of small ball swept. Ten years later, big men with both height and skills, such as Homgren and Wenban Yama, gradually came onto the stage, and people couldn't help but ask questions: "Has the small ball era come to an end?"

Looking back at 1979, the NBA introduced the three-point line for the first time, and league teams averaged only 2.8 three-pointers per game. And in the 2018-19 season, this number soared to 32 times.

In 2015, the Warriors led by Curry caused a three-point storm, and the entire league quickly followed. You can shoot in five positions on the offensive end, and unlimited defense switching on the defensive end has become the norm. In the 2024-25 season, the Celtics made 48.1 three-pointers per game, with the Warriors and the Bulls ranked second and third, both above 42 times respectively.

It is obvious that three-pointers seem to be no longer a league trend, but they have become the most basic of basketball.

In 2025, this ultimate small ball system ushered in another change: the big insider is no longer just a coolie at the basket, but an all-round player with space projection and inside frame protection.

Thunder is the best example. In the 2024-25 season, they won the best record in the league with 68 wins and won the first championship in team history. The core lies in Alexander at the MVP level, but it may be Homgren who really makes the system complete.

This thin center can not only protect the frame, but also open up space. In the finals, he averaged 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, leading the team with a positive and negative value. Even though he only played 32 games due to injury in the regular season, judging from the outbreak of the playoffs, it is enough to prove the return of the value of the inside.

On the other side, Wenban Yama is another story line. In his rookie season, he showed cross-age potential, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game, perfectly interpreting the ability of modern shooting inside. Unfortunately, the seasonal reimbursement of shoulder thrombosis finally slowed down. The trend is obvious, and the new era inside line that can not only open up space but also serve as a frame protection is reshaping the alliance style.

From the offensive end, three-pointers are still the core, but the people who provide space are different.

Last season, Curry still led the league with 4.4 three-pointers per game. But the key turning point is that the space is no longer able to be opened by the outside line, and the big inside can also become the projection point. Homgren and Vinban Yama are the evolutionary representatives of this trend.

On the defensive end, the inside frame guard gradually began to become the key to the playoffs again. You can compete in shooting in the regular season, but under the high intensity of the playoffs, the defense of the penalty area is the core of determining the outcome. On the Thunder's road to winning the championship, the improvement of Homegren's defensive efficiency is the key. The inside can stay in the penalty area, and the outside can also not be named when changing defenses.

In addition, media public opinion guidance and adjustment of the alliance system also play a role in promoting it. Some media believe that the over-dominated three-pointers have led to the game becoming monotonous and constantly called on the league to rebalance the rules. Although the NBA has not yet made any substantial moves, this public opinion has invisibly strengthened the sense of value recognition of insiders.

Answer the question at the beginning: Is the small ball era over?

The answer is naturally no. The core of the ball is offensive space and three-point shooting, and these contents still exist in today's era, but it is no longer the only answer. The NBA competition now is no longer just "who shoots more three-pointers", but "who can integrate more modes".

And the inside man who can shoot and protect the frame is the latest gold template. The

Thunder's champion has proved the feasibility of the hybrid system, and the future Wenban Yama is likely to further push this model to a higher peak. The tactical trend of basketball has never risen and fallen, and has always been on the trend of integration and evolution.

The era of small balls has not ended, but new branches have grown on this system.

The future mainstream of the NBA belongs to those new era inside lines that can shoot and defend, open up space and guard the basket.