Yep, they stopped calling illegal offense sometime around 2008, because it was partially blamed for the surge of injuries from leaping players. Pretty amazing how that officiating debate and evolution all were designed to stop Jordan, and it never did. Too bad ESPN's Last Dance didn't pause the story somewhere around ep3 to interview living officials from the day. That was a greater series of debates than ANYTHING Wilt Chamberlain brought to the NBA and it's glossed over just because the key became a U and resembles a visual reminder.
Illegal Offense interpretations are the main reason Basketball periods cannot be accurately compared throughout the Modern Era(capital M and E, what has been long regarded as "post-merger") with whatever is regarded as the current era. The NBA knows this, it's used to create debate, because GOAT debates in sports is pretty much how 'word of mouth' advertising works.
So yes, 4 guys sitting beyond the arc is BY THE RULES illegal, just like ball carrying, but the league does not want to do anything about it. The theory is this is how we reduce injury, that the league will adjust, and they can use this to better promote players BEYOND the regular fans. Every attempt at controlling a face-of-the-league player has collapsed when people are reminded of Jordan. It's not only the Bulls that have this shadow, but the entire league, and some say all of sports. Curse of the Pedestal like the Beatles, Disney, etc, where their influence on the world was so great, that people defend that pedestal long after it has diminished. So what happens when you get to 90% efficiency with gasoline, you change the rules regardless if it's true or better, because people are bored.
Welcome it, or we will all be bored. Just remember, Jordan is still the GOAT and that shouldn't stop you from enjoying today's game.
