Former NBA sharpshooter Michael Redd recently shared his list of the four toughest players he had to guard during his career on the “Knuckleheads” podcast with Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson. Among the elite names, Redd ranked LeBron James at No. 3, highlighting the challenges of defending a young, athletic LeBron.
Michael Redd: “I got four, I’ll say Allen Houston, number four. I would say LeBron, number three. Now, most people would say, LeBron, number three? I’m like, yeah, because he was young LeBron. Now, he obviously is more cerebral now than he was when he was younger, but he was just an athletic bull.”
“Number two, Kobe, but he’s one B, one A. Kobe speaks for itself. and then number one, AI, because I would have to guard him a lot of times and I had to stay off of him because he was so fast.”
Quentin Richardson: “And we had no business guarding him. Me, you, 1,2 guards, play, Eric Snow at the one and him in the two and we had no business guarding him. And he used to jump over the trap, bro. Remember the bunny hop over the trap?”
Michael Redd: “Shout out to AI, man. I love AI and his game. You know, he was just special, man.”
Redd’s list began with Allen Houston at No. 4, acknowledging Houston’s smooth shooting and offensive prowess. Houston, known for his silky jump shot, presented a unique challenge for defenders, as he could score from almost anywhere on the court.
LeBron James, who Redd placed at No. 3, was described as a “young LeBron” during his early years in the NBA. He noted that while LeBron has become more cerebral in his approach to the game over the years, his early days in the league were defined by raw athleticism and physical dominance. “He was just an athletic bull,” Redd added, emphasizing the difficulty of trying to contain a player with such a rare combination of size, speed, and power.
At No. 2, Redd listed Kobe Bryant, whom he described as “one B, one A,” almost on par with his top choice. Redd recognized Bryant’s legendary work ethic, skill set, and competitive nature. Defending Kobe was an immense challenge for any player, given his ability to score from anywhere on the court and his relentless drive to win.
Redd’s toughest opponent, however, was Allen Iverson, whom he placed at No. 1. Iverson’s lightning speed and quickness made him a nightmare for defenders, and Redd often found himself struggling to keep up with the diminutive yet explosive guard.
Quentin Richardson, who joined in the conversation, echoed Redd’s sentiments about guarding Iverson, recalling the challenge of trying to contain him. “And we had no business guarding him,” Richardson admitted, emphasizing just how difficult it was to defend the elusive AI.
Redd’s list reflects the respect and admiration he has for these iconic players, each of whom brought a unique set of challenges that made them nearly impossible to stop on the court.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
