The NBA community loves a good debate, and one of the all-time classic topics is debating whether the modern NBA greats are as good as the legends from previous generations. A lot of ex-players, media members, and fans have weighed in on this topic and there is hardly a consensus. Takes like ‘Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a bench player in the 80s and 90s’ as suggested by Charles Oakley may be extreme, but there is a reasonable debate that can still be had.
NBA trainer Dorian Lee, someone that has worked with basketball players at the very highest level has now added his opinion to the mix. According to Lee, players in the modern NBA are more skilled than players in the past were but that doesn’t necessarily make them great. He has given an example of the continued dominance of some of the league’s older players to further his point.
“Are the players today better than they were yesterday? Old school vs. new school. The truth be told, the players today, no matter how much y’all wanna get around it. Players today are much more skilled. But are not better players. That is a fact. A bunch of skill does not mean you know how to play.
“How do I know? Cuz 842 people have scored 50 points in a game this year. LeBron is leading the league in scoring, Chris Paul is leading the league in assists at 37. You’re telling me they’re better versions of their best selves? Not at all and you know it.
“This is the NWBA. The National Wrestling Basketball Association. This is smashing the table over your head and you bleeding and then you go in the back and wipe the blood off and the next week you’re healed. That’s what the NBA is right now.”
The modern game has moved to a much faster pace and allows more offensive freedom so scoring has gone up, but defensive schemes have also changed and adapted in various ways.
If the Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving sagas are anything to go by, Lee isn’t entirely wrong but CP and LeBron dominating could also be down to their brilliance and the advent of sports science. In any case, this is a debate with no right answer but at the end of the day, all fans can do is enjoy the current generation of stars.
