I giggled the other day reading some millennials on Daily Thunder opine on the subject if former NBA stars from previous eras could star in the current NBA. Of course they could. Today’s players primarily only do three things in today’s game — run around outside the three point line, pick and roll, and pick and pop. Defense is marginal depending if you’re playing in an option year. Granted, some of the players from previous eras would perhaps be playing more defined roles like small lineups or only going against big lineups, but of course they could play because the reality is today’s players are somewhat soft and not coming out of the college game prepared for the next level. Kevin Durant left Texas after winning the NPOTY his only college season and couldn’t even bench press a hundred pounds his first pro season.
Bill Russell could run the floor, defend, rebound, and out think any of today’s centers. Can you imagine Bill Russell as the lone big running the court on a small ball lineup with Steph, Klay, Draymond, and Durant? I’m fairly certain Steve Kerr would trade Za Za Pachulia or Andrew Bogut of now for Bill Russell of then especially if Russell added some weight to his frame. I mean-is there even a genuine dominant or highly skilled center in the current NBA? Is there a center who even remotely has the size or overall skill sets of not only Russell, but Kareem or Wilt? If you’re a millennial you’ve got some work in front of you telling me either DeAndre Jordan or Dwight Howard should even be mentioned in the same breath with these previous players.
Michael Jordan of then would be right there with LeBron as the best player in today’s game. Period. Other current era MVPs such as Durant and Curry in no way have been the complete player Jordan was or would still be in his prime if he were playing today. Curry can’t defend and isn’t much of a rebounder. To Durant’s credit, he has gotten stronger and has vastly improved his defense, but are you telling me you’d take Kevin Durant over Michael Jordan? Good look with that. Jordan would have gone 18-31 in Game 6 versus the Warriors and basically told Draymond Green to go f–k himself while walking off the court. Kevin texted Green after the loss, packed his bags, moved to Oakland, and became the guy’s soulmate. Are you millennials even remotely serious?
Same with prime Kobe Bryant. Bryant, Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Larry Bird– all played with a competitive edge you honestly don’t see from today’s players.
Obviously– I’m assuming these previous players would have the same weight training and dietary advances today’s players have in making these statements.
Is it fair to compare Oscar Robertson from his Milwaukee Buck early 70’s prime to Westbrook of 2016? I would say yes and here’s why. Westbrook is faster and jumps higher, but is a spotty three point shooter. I’m fairly certain Oscar Robertson could morph his game to today’s three point line, plus Robertson would play with more guile and cunning than we see from Westbrook, Harden, Durant, or even LeBron. I don’t even seriously enter Curry into this discussion because his game completely revolves around his three point shooting prowess. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have Steph Curry on my team, but I’d have to make sure I had four complete two way players around him on the court.
One of the things I’m loving about Westbrook’s season is that it’s forcing all of us who love the NBA to restudy the history of the game and take some nostalic looks back at previous players and their legacies.
Bill Russell is not only one of the all-time NBA greats, but of all sports. Usually, I find Bill Simmons to be incredibly annoying, but this video is outstanding. I would love to sit with Bill Russell and discuss Donald Trump for an hour. Truly an interesting man who’s book Second Wind is one of the best sports biographies I’ve ever read.