Former NBA guard Nate Robinson has never been shy about speaking his mind, and in a new interview with Sam Yip of HoopsHype, he offered a harsh but honest take on today’s young players, saying too many of them only dream of the NBA for one reason: money.
“Yeah. See, when I was a kid growing up, I wanted to make it to the league. It wasn’t about the money. The money comes with making it to the league. Now, for young kids, it’s all about the bag. It’s not about earning respect from your peers who played before you.”
“I wanted Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson. I wanted them to respect the game I brought and the way I played. These young cats fell off that. They lost that, they don’t care. They think they’re just as good as the guys before them. They don’t pay homage, they don’t pay their respect, they don’t pay their dues. They think they’re like that because of how much money they’re making.”
“You’re making a lot of money, but your game doesn’t equate to what you’re being paid. You’re not playing like the GOATs and the guys before you. They don’t appreciate your game. I played for the appreciation and love from the players before me. That was a big thing… I wanted them to respect my game. They’ve lost that part of the game, and they need it back desperately.”
Robinson, a three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion and one of the most explosive 5’9″ players in NBA history, said the mindset of the new generation is drastically different from when he came up. Back then, he said, the goal wasn’t about signing the biggest contract or chasing endorsements; it was about proving yourself against the greats and earning their respect.
Robinson’s comments echo a growing sentiment among NBA veterans that many young players today are more focused on building their brand than building their game. The combination of social media fame, NIL deals, and rookie contracts worth tens of millions has shifted priorities for many prospects even before they enter the league.
The former Knicks guard said that while today’s players are wealthier than ever, the quality of basketball and the pride in the craft have slipped.
Robinson’s career embodied that mindset. He entered the league as an undersized, overlooked guard from Washington and carved out a nine-year career through hustle, energy, and relentless competitiveness. He didn’t have a superstar’s paycheck, but he earned fans’ respect with moments like his electric playoff run with the Chicago Bulls in 2013.
Now, at 40, Nate Robinson says the NBA is full of talent but lacking hunger. The drive to earn respect from peers, legends, and fans has been replaced by a desire to “get the bag.”
His message to today’s generation is clear: the money should follow the love of the game, not the other way around.
