(This article was published on August 28, and the authors are CBS reporters Sam Quinn, Jasmyn Wimbish and Brad Botkin. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views.)

In the 2000-01 season, NBA teams averaged 13.7 three-pointers per game. In the 2024-25 season, this number jumped to 37.6 times. 25 years ago, no center averaged 4 assists per game, and now Jokic's average assists per game has reached double digits. The league allowed Handcheck to defend, but not regional joint defense; now it is the opposite. Throughout the 20th century, only one international player won the MVP award, and now we are in the stage where MVP is an international player for seven consecutive years. And now we have the NBA Cup and play-offs, two more events than at the turn of the century.

All this shows that basketball is an evolving sport. Basketball 25 years ago is very different from basketball today, and it will inevitably continue to change in the future. The NBA in 2050 may be very different from the NBA in 2025. The sport will change, and the way we talk about it will change with it.

So as we end the "Quart of the Century" series, we will try to predict future changes in the NBA. Here are the bold predictions of CBS Sports’ NBA team reporters for the 2050 NBA:

1. Victor Vanbanyama will be regarded as the greatest player in NBA history

We have never seen a player with unique physical conditions and superb skills like Vanbanyama. How many 7-foot-3 (about 2.21 meters) centers can break through with the ball while attacking and switch to the outside when defending? How many people can block 5 times and score 5 three-pointers in a game? Jordan and James are the leader in their time, while Vinban Yama will literally surpass his time. Jordan and James are the best versions of the type of player they have seen before, while Vinban Yama is the next stage in basketball evolution, a player that has never been seen before and may take decades to see again. He will almost win the best defensive player trophy he deserves. His Spurs are also expected to remain competitive in the new era. Although his game still has some roughness to grind, and his teammates are still young and learning, once he starts to reap honors in the next year or two, he won’t stop until he becomes the greatest trophy collector in sports history. ——Sam Quinn

2, the Philadelphia basketball championship drought will eventually end... But the 76ers still need to work hard

It is predicted that by 2050, Philadelphia's long-standing championship drought will end, and the city will usher in another professional basketball team to win the championship - thanks to their upcoming WNBA team. The 76ers have not won the championship since 1983 and have not reached the division finals since 2001. And Philadelphia's WNBA team will succeed in the first twenty years after its establishment. ——John Gonzalez

3. A big player will be involved in a gambling scandal. It is predicted that by 2050, the NBA will have to keep a distance from sports betting due to a series of serious gambling scandals involving well-known NBA players in the recent past year; in the past year alone, many sports betting scandals in the NBA have been jaw-dropping. This seems to indicate that a more famous star may be involved in such events in the future. ——Jasmyn Wimbish

4. Curry's performance in the 2015-16 season will be in history forever

By 2050, Stephen Curry's 2015-16 season will still be the greatest single-season performance people have ever seen. That season, Curry averaged 30.1 points, 6.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game, hitting 5 three-pointers per game, and shooting percentages of 50.4%, 45.4% and 90.8% respectively in the three games. He was elected as the MVP in 2016 with a unanimous vote and led the team to a record of 73 wins and 9 losses. Curry changed the way the game was played, but for the next 25 years, no player was able to replicate or surpass his performance that season. ——Brad Botkin

Original text: Sam Quinn, Jasmyn Wimbish, Brad Botkin

Compiled by JayChan