As a 4x All-Star, Rasheed Wallace has more authority than most to speak on the game of basketball.
And while he retired from the league years ago, he is still willing to share some of his opinions about all things NBA.
Most recently, Wallace made an appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, where he shared his opinion that LeBron James and Kevin Durant would not be as good had they played “in his era.”
“He probably would’ve done good with his physical stature, with him being bigger than the majority of the rest of the players. So he probably would’ve held his own, but I don’t think he would be as successful as he is now. It’s a whole different era back then. I couldn’t necessarily say that he would’ve been a beast but I think he would’ve held his own,” Wallace said.
It’s a controversial statement, to say the least, and fans were quick to flame him for it on Twitter.
(2007) LeBron Posterizes Rasheed Wallace 😤pic.twitter.com/7C1eDEjhwP
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 7, 2021
Rasheed Wallace: LeBron wouldn’t last in my era
LeBron in Rasheed Wallace’s Era (96-13):
4 MVPS
2 NBA championships
2 Finals MVPs
9x All NBA pic.twitter.com/pyKFRZyLQG
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) September 7, 2021
https://twitter.com/_JasonLT/status/1435289395507073027https://twitter.com/mightbe__simba/status/1435247085004099593
Brilliant take. The most physically gifted basketball player of all-time would get worse when the rest of the league backtracks. Not only that, but LeBron won 4 MVP’s during Rasheed Wallace’s career. I love Sheed — this take is worse than Chicago style pizza. https://t.co/9hdTFbeqQR
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) September 7, 2021
Dear Rasheed,
LEBRON ENTERED THE NBA IN YOUR 8th SEASON! #ENOUGHISENOUGH https://t.co/jpe2oNxgvp
— Bootleg Liquor on a Sunday Night 🥃 (@MikeTroy81) September 7, 2021
Old heads can be so annoying sometimes talking about their eras lol. Rasheed must forget when LeBron, at age 22, beat the Pistons with Boobie Gibson as his team’s second-leading scorer. Scored 25 straight points in one of the games, obliterating one of the NBA’s best defenses. https://t.co/9AlYsnTau0
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) September 7, 2021
But LeBron was drafted in 2003…Rasheed Was Drafted 8 Years Prior which means he was still playing during his era…Tf do people be talking about man lol https://t.co/5o5YC1h4lx
— Marcelas (@MarcelasHoward) September 7, 2021
Damn Rasheed, Lebron was playing in the NBA while u was in your prime. He still busted y’all azz as a youngster. 🤷🏾♂️ #StopItSheed https://t.co/9hWP7vHiR9
— Coach Rod Taylor (@CoachRodTaylor) September 8, 2021
Considering that Rasheed’s career largely overlapped with LeBron’s, it’s really no surprise that fans weren’t taking kindly to his take.
Not to mention that LeBron seems more than capable of surviving in any era of the game. As a strong, brilliant, and talented two-way superstar, there’s really nothing that “King” James can’t do when it comes to the game of basketball.
And now, even at 36-years-old, he’s ready to go like he hasn’t lost a beat…
Year 19 right around the corner! And I’m excited like it’s year 1! CAN NOT WAIT to get going! Oh LeBron 19s are ready for lift off too by the way! Lol. . #ThekidfromAkron #Washed by @graydientvisuals
It’s hard to say for sure how LeBron would do had he played during a different time. There’s honestly no way to say for sure.
The best we can do now is watch and see what he’s able to do with the time he has left.
