Lakers Legend James Worthy Goes Off On Modern State of NBA: “All They Do Is Practice Threes, Lift Weights, Get Tattoos, Tweet And Go On Social Media.”

2 Min Read

Credit: Sideline Sources

As one of the most accomplished players in basketball history, James Worthy knows more than most what it takes to succeed in the NBA. And while the game has progressed in many ways, Worthy isn’t exactly happy with how today’s players operate.

Speaking on the Stoney & Jansen Radio Show, he went off on the attitude of modern-day stars and explained how their process of learning the game has changed compared to past generations.

(via Uproxx):

“I mean, Kareem had four years with John Wooden, Michael Jordan and I had three years with Dean Smith, Isiah (Thomas) had some years with Bobby Knight. So you learned the fundamentals,” Worthy said. “Not only that, you learned how to live. You learned how to balance your freaking checkbook in college, there’s a lot of things. When you don’t get that, guys are coming to the NBA who are not fundamentally sound. All they do is practice threes, lift weights, get tattoos, tweet and go on social media. That’s it. So you don’t have that sound player; you have an athletic player. And that’s what’s happening to the game. It’s a lot of ISO and looking for mismatches. Bill Russell told me one time, they had five options off of one play. You don’t see that anymore.”

Worthy isn’t the only legend to be critical of modern-day players. Many guys over the years have expressed similar concerns about the mentality of players today, and not all of them are completely unfounded.

Compared to past generations, the guys today are less interested in being competitive and much more invested in building up their brand and being likable to the fans.

On the court, it has led to more ‘specialists’ than well-rounded two-way players. It’s just the way it is, and clearly Worthy has a problem with it.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *