At every level of basketball – from pickup to the pros – the offensive side of the floor is glorified. Almost everyone can agree that playing with the ball and shooting is a lot more fun than playing without it and defending.
Nowadays, with the way the league has evolved, players have been asked to become proficient at both ends of the ball – not just one.
The days of being just a defender or just a scorer are over. If you can’t do both, then you likely won’t get much playing time on winning teams.
Still, those who put a strong emphasis on defending give themselves a better chance to be successful.