Everything changes over time, even the NBA.
50 years ago, basketball looked a whole lot different than it does now. There were a lot fewer threes, a lot less points, and a much slower game.
Over time, players learned how to move faster and get better at hitting shots from long distances, and it’s fair to say that the NBA, as it is now, is a much different beast than it was during 1981. The question is, what does the evolving game mean for the talent of this generation vs. the previous ones?
Much to the chagrin of many retired basketball legends, former NBA sharpshooter J.J. Redick argues that players from back then (50s, 60s, and early 70s) could not have played in the league today.
“I’ve tried to provide some middle ground where I acknowledge their greatness in their era. But one of my favourite things a player has said is when Austin Rivers said if he played against Bob Cousy he would be a hall of famer…cz he is not wrong.
Here is my issue with the old timers when they shit on us saying we couldn’t play in their era..I would say this and I don’t think this is a hot take..most NBA players in today’s era could play in any era in the NBA. Most NBA players from the 50s, 60s, early 70s could not play in today’s NBA. I think that’s reality. Of course you have Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain.. .the top ten or so players from that era but the talent from 1 to 450 is through the roof.
Kevin Love is better than 99% of the power forwards on that list (referring to top 75 list).”
Ultimately, Redick’s point is this: people get better at stuff over time. And as good as some of those legends were back then, people have only gotten better at the game since time has passed.
And, in 50 years, the players then will be better than the ones currently playing today (according to Redick).
“I don’t want to be that guy in 10 or 20 years from now who is shitting on players in 2044. I recognize the game always evolves. I watch these highlight tapes of kids that are like 12 and their handles are Kyrie’s handles and they are hitting step back threes and I’m like the game in 10-20 years will look completely different, the skillsets will look completely different… and guess what? They will be better than we were. That’s just reality. That’s how the game works, it evolves, it gets better.”
Players in the 60s did not have the same resources as players do today. If that trend continues, which there’s no reason to believe it will not, then the league will only continue to get better and better.
It’s certainly an interesting discussion and not one that will go without some argument.
But the important thing is to recognize what each player did in their own time, with what resources were available to them. Even as the game and our world continue to evolve, we can celebrate the greatness of those from any time and any place in history.
No doubt, that’s something everybody can agree upon.
