'Is he Stupid?' Dominique Wilkins Goes off on JJ Redick for Steph Curry VS Larry Bird Comments! ESPN

[@Stacks5497]

The NBA was way more physical when bird played , Riddick has no clue .

[@scottrackley4457]

Put Steph up agains Dumars and the Pistons. Steph would have gotten hurt. If Dumars can guard Jordan, he can guard Steph.

[@madturtle8826]

Dominique Wilkins is 100% crap resistant..He played in the greatest era of basketball IMO..

[@MatthewW713]

I agree. Dominique was the guy who I loved watching as a kid and always liked even though he didn’t play on my favorite team. Dude played the game the right way and did it with class. Legend. And he is 100% right on this point.

[@paul-u2y9y]

As great as he was i still think he's underated !

[@markricci1361]

The Human Highlight Reel. They didn't give Dominique that name for nothing. It was Smith Barney with him...he earrrrned it.

[@franklawrencejimmerson975]

Stephen A saying y'all need to calm down is hilarious

[@gandydancer9710]

What was hilarious is how they wouldn't let him get a word in. I'm still not sure what he wanted to say.

[@MetalMann-de3xi]

Larry Bird always told defenders where he was going to shoot the ball and always did it in their faces for a challenge.

[@BlueJNBA]

I"m glad he called Reddick out; JJ is apparently entirely ignorant of how NBA basketball was played in the 1980s.

[@ksh9504]

Love love bird. Jj Reddick is the man curry is great too tough argument

[@ToddAndelin]

You could literally assault players in the 80's. Somewhere theres a play where Pippen gets slammed going to the basket and on his way down, another player, I think Rodman, tomahawk chopped him in the head, just for good measure. Laimbeer could have starred in a horror movie and he was on the floor trying with all his energy and skill to injure grown men. Bird has much commentary on this subject. Unforgivable, career ending violent fouls were served up hot every night in that era.... Its something people most people cannot even fathom.

[@ov9879]

JJ Redick always says stupid things. The whole Larry Bird era was physical. Todays average NBA player would not make it in that era because it was so physical. Michael Jordan had to pump iron and beef up to take the beating day in and day out. Todays players certainly would not be scoring a lot of points like they are scoring today if they played back then.

[@SapphicTwist]

I disagree. I've been watching basketball since Alcindor vs Hayes in the Astrodome (1968), and I get so tired of people exaggerating the perimeter skills of players in the past. Look at any game from the 70s-90s, you've got basically 10 players trying to get as close to the basket as possible, with any shot beyond 20 feet considered a bad shot... most guys over 6'7 had neither the ball handling nor outside shooting skills that 6'10 guys are expected to have now. So yeah, go into the key, you'll get hammered. But for perimeter players, uncontested shots were the norm.

[@christopherthom2612]

you are also losing the point. there wasn’t physicality at the 3 pt line in Bird time. Curry gets defended way more at the 3 then Bird ever did

[@ov9879]

@@christopherthom2612 I think you are missing the point. There was not physicality at the 3 pt line in Birds day because they did not take many 3 pointers. The threat was going to the basket. That’s where it was physical. That’s why they played off Bird at the 3 point area because the threat was more of him running towards the basket. It was a different game. Curry is no threat going to the basket. He is a threat at the 3 point area. So that’s why he is heavily guarded there. A different game. Curry could not take that beating Bird took going to the basket. JJ Reddick as a former NBA basketball player should know that. That’s why he is getting all the flack.

[@ILoveFood654]

@@ov9879 you are missing the point. Zone defense > Illegal defense. Curry would have average 30 or 40 PPG in the 80's and 90's

[@timquinn3397]

JJ said bird wasn’t top 5 three point shooter but one of the greatest shooters of all time. Makes zero sense. It was a different time. If Bird grew up in this era he would be easily in the top 5. Please

[@jeffmiller4506]

Last shot to win the game I'm picking bird every single time. He was a killer. Steph Curry doesn't hit game winners he is a volume shooter. Game on the line I'm only making one choice

[@brianmauldin7478]

Steph Curry doesn’t “live at the line” either. How Dominique Wilkins told me he doesn’t watch today’s games without telling me he doesn’t watch today’s games. Steph has never gotten a superstar whistle.

[@therocket280z7]

JJ's argument that Bird is not a top 5 3pt shooter because of his statistics is wrong for three reasons. If you shoot 10-15 threes in one game, your chances of making a higher percentage go up considerably, versus shooting 2-3 a game as Bird did. Second, Bird didn't have the option to shoot a 3pt shot until he got into the NBA, because it wasn't when he was in College, and it was only used in the NBA when he started to play there. So, no practice shots prior, and really no practice of them in the NBA, as Bird has said repeatedly over the years. Third, arguing that the game is more physical in the last 15yrs is incredibly laughable. The 80s and 90s were the most physical times In the NBA period. The 2000s were only slightly less so. But the last 15yrs is the softest play ever in the NBA. Did you know players rode the bus or flew commercial in the 80s and 90s JJ? Did you know that players didn't take 25% of the season off back then? Did you know the lane didn't open wide like the red sea when players drove the lane back then, as it usually does today? Watch Ant Edwards highlights, defensive players are backing away as he enters the lane. Quite the opposite happened in the 80s and 90s...

[@kanvuzmusicproductions]

I honestly think we have to put it in context. He (JJ) is talking about from the 3pt line, perspective. Of course when your inside of the arc, the game gets more physical. But if you watch Larry shot his 3's (based on the time 80's) he had less resistance compared to Curry who gets chased and grabbed like a jack rabbit.

[@thunderstruck73190]

they don't play defense in today's game. Referencing Smart and applying that to every game is in bad faith, because Smart is a defensive stand out. The average defense played was much tougher back then.

[@kennyray1573]

I Agree However These Guys Are Paid More So Owners Protect Them More

[@Executioner566]

Most people interpert something into what JJ Reddick said. It is true that Bird is not a good 3 point shooter and and wasnt contested at 3 point if you would transplant him into todays game.Thats what the question was about. not dirty fouls in the paint and so on.

[@elnardowebster2842]

This is so stupid. Bird showed countless timess that he was a deadly marksman. One legged 3pt game winners, three consecutive 3pt contest where he never took his warmup off. But that's not even the point. JJ lacks intelligence (or is biased because 3pt % was the only reason he played in the nba so he tends to overvalue it). The point is...how do you compare 3pt % when they didn't even practice them in the 80s. Does JJ really think that if Bird practiced the 3 as much as they do today, he would shoot worse than Tatum or anybody else? The only guy I feel confident saying is a better 3pt shooter is Curry, because Curry is a freak, but below Steph, the Birdman could get anybody. But mind you, if the game is on the line, there is no Steph, Klay, Kobe or Jordan. There's only one man, and that's the Birdman. Oh, and btw, 3pt is just a small part of the game. Bird, as a player, is top 3 all time. And I mean an easy top 3. Cheers.

[@kermitthegaminghermit8736]

Physical? Today's game...for Curry? Please. Bird played against the Bad Boys of Detroit and other physical teams. Plus the game was far more physical back then and the 3 point line was further back.

[@JorgeFlores-ox4pr]

Which era were these guy complaining about? Was it only when Larry played? 79-91? That is the 80s, when zone defense's were used. Thus gave the offense space for long shots. Rules have a direct impact on the type of player rises above the rest.

[@239jangalang4]

Larry would’ve liked to just get grabbed and held by the Pistons instead of his head taken off, those guys genuinely hated each other

[@darkangel8068]

JJ Redick is correct. Bird hit big shots, but not statistically the best.

[@johnr8309]

I'm a Warrior and a Curry fan, and I think he is without a doubt the best shooter of all time. However, I must admit that if you even breathe on him the ref blows that whistle.

[@paulengels6926]

Larry bird faced Michael Cooper - the best defender ever. Curry couldn't score against dellavdova in the finals.

[@nigelcleveland3012]

2 things can be true.... the game was more is physical 40 years ago. Back in the 80's, Bird typically was shooting pretty open look 3 pointers. While the game is spaced out more today, Curry is being guarded heavier on the perimeter than Bird ever was. Now the physicality of interior 70's and 80's basketball is no comparison. Old School wins that hands down. You had to be a man... it was damn near hockey.

[@jasonkassa2204]

'Top-3' is a lean list in any NBA skill, but we know that bird was a big time 3 point shooter. His era forced him to shoot about a third of how many 3s he would have shot today. Does what we know put him top 3? IDK probably not that's a lean 3-man list.

[@robinshi1398]

Biased video. Reddick never says Steph plays in a more physical era. He’s only saying Steph faces more physicality on and outside the three point line than Larry bird, which I believe is true. Bird, like pretty much every player from the 80s, passed up many open three point opportunities, as the game back then focused on feeding the post. Players back then almost never put as much pressure as they do to Steph now.

[@HocusPocusFocus69]

Today's NBA don't know what physical is compared to the 80s/90s NBA.

[@damonthomas2975]

So because JJ watches the games now and I watch them on KZbin it doesn't matter because we didn't see it live so we just can't understand? How ridiculous of a statement to make. Look I'm from Indiana and I love Bird, I think people ultimately underrated him on the all time greatest players list but JJ is right, Bird is a phenomenal shooter but there have been many players that have shot a higher percentage and were actually volume 3 points shooters. And you can even name plenty back in the "rough and tough days" mad dog talks about. Det Schremf was a better 3 point shooter, Chris Mullins was a better 3 point shooter, Peja Stoakovich was a better 3 point shooter, Reggie Miller was a better 3 point shooter. The list goes on and I'm just naming guys from back in the day before 3 point shooting got popularized like it is today, no one is gonna claim Bird was a better 3 point shooter than the likes of Curry, Korver, Ray Allen, Etc.Is he underrated overall? Yes definitely! But the man shot like 38% from three and didn't even shoot them very often so when 2k has Larry Bird as like a 99 three pt rating it's just kinda silly... it's glamorizing a legend to a falical point. JJ knows damn well what he's talking about Dom needs to recognize this white boy knows ball better than he does.

[@wisdomstreasury]

The NBA had to make a decision - skills vs bruisers. Who cares if you can elbow a player in mid-flight, they got outside linebacker positions for that. Can you create your own shot off the dribble with mid-range and long distance - with all that size.

[@reginalddennis6466]

Listen, Larry is way more clutch than Steph. Stats are a slippery slope, depending on the player. Draymond Green's numbers are pedestrian at best, but without him there isn't even one ring in the bay. Now back to Larry. Just like Mad Dog, I saw it live in those decades and Larry showed me so many clutch things and shots. It's ridiculous. Steph finally showed me that he could be clutch with that last ring they won when he was MVP. Larry won his first one within 2 years of being in the league and quickly became the face, leader, and clutch shooter for the Celtics. Those eras in my day were way more physical! David Stern kept a measure of physicality even into the 2010s. To be honest, 2015 was when I saw it slip away. The matchups between the Heat and Spur teams right before then were extremely physical. I feel like Silver watered down things for scoring ratings.

[@hippie564]

back to back to back MVP's and 3 point shooting contests!! JJ needs to pull his head out of a certain place....

[@gammaant78]

3pts were introduced to the NBA the same year Larry Bird started a rookie in 1979. 3pts were thought of as a gimmick to make the game exciting. If Larry Bird knew this was going to be a part of the game, imagine how more deadly he would be? I'm a Lakers fan and have mad respect for Larry Bird.

[@144Souldier]

🤣🤣🤣

[@wildtakeidc4731]

damn, nice hypothetical

[@Hopealliswell6054]

Bird also understood math. Don’t compare Bird to Steph on shooting the deep ball. The NBA has never seen anything like Steph as far as a shooter goes. Bird might be overall a better player but he’s not a better shooter.

[@ronald8792]

Curry is a better 3pt shooter than Bird because he specializes in deep shots. Larry was better at everything else.

[@chrisbuck7520]

​@@Hopealliswell6054 You don't think if Bird @ a full 6'9" and known as one of the strongest hands on the ball guys he couldn't have shot from deeper??? Just cuz you didn't see him do it doesn't mean he couldn't have. Many storytellers have told about Bird taking challenges on and nailing ridiculous long shots. Just like everyone thinking because Shaq dunked & tried to do chinups on the rim he was the most intimidating or dominant big man ever. Wilt NEVER did that but surely could've too. It wasn't allowed and it wasn't his nature. Don't get it twisted that Bird & Wilt couldn't do those things

[@arielaltairch]

"I watched the games, I was there at them. JJ you looked them up on youtube" LOL that was cold JJ's highlight reel watch history couldnt hold up

[@Carlospjr]

He’s right!

[@chrisv.noire.6388]

that was the dumbest non-logical statement Mad Dog made. Cold? are you fcking kidding. There is no replay in live games...I can just see the coaches saying...nah i don't watch film...because i was at the damn game. WTF?

[@HulkVahkiin]

@@chrisv.noire.6388 Your statement is what is non-logical. ''There is no replay in live games...I can just see the coaches saying...nah i don't watch film...because i was at the damn game'' Wtf does this even mean?

[@jeremyellismusic]

@@chrisv.noire.6388 Correct. Being at the game does not give you better insight than watching the film. Human memory is one of the worst indicators of facts. And this debate is silly. JJ is saying over and over that Bird was a great shooter. Saying, "I saw a game," does not change math and stats. Strangely enough, if you check best 3pt by %, JJ is 4th best all time! If you look at 3pts made, Bird is not top 50. He won that one 3 pt contest tough, so that's cool...

[@The_Pause_Tape_KING]

@@jeremyellismusic but yet you completely ignore JJ's ignorant statement about physicality against Steph vs Bird... the Bad Boy Pistons had more physicality on one team than the entire NBA does today!

[@JakeFromYoutube]

The bad boys had more physicality on one team than the entire NBA does today 💀🤣

[@CreativeBigL]

Jake LeBron bigger than any player on the Pistons 😂

[@syyner1748]

​@@CreativeBigL irrelevant

[@mutt8553]

@@CreativeBigL How is that relevant?

[@lelu0079]

Bruh elbowing a man when he is midair don’t make you physical just make you a basketball thug with zero skill

[@syyner1748]

@@lelu0079 you must be a kid

[@Leatherface81]

He said Steph Curry had to face Marcus Smart for 48 minutes, Bird had to face Bill Lambeer and the bad boy Pistons and people like Charles Barkley for 48 minutes.

[@scottrackley4457]

Had to face Nique, Pippen, Chuck, Oakley, Rodman on the regular

[@thebigdeazold4519]

@@scottrackley4457okay? That doesn’t make him a top 3 damn shooter. 💀 he’s not a top three 3 point shooter regardless of if he played JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. 😂

[@almidaad8014]

You didn't listen correctly, JJ was talking about the defense at the three points line not in the paint.

[@bthom172]

Marcus Smart is a good defender, but Bill was a street brawler; his game had nothing to do with playing good defense. Any idiot can hit a man in the face while he tries to score a basket.

[@TuttaNeck]

Bird was a sf- power forward 💀 and his point is that bird was not getting touched up like curry on the perm

[@conjunto505]

This is why I don't watch ESPN. They are paid to be and act stupid

[@scottmoreau3584]

Players didn’t shoot from 35 back then because even if you made it, coach pulling you out faster than you can blink. Now players have the authority and play globetrotters ball. Back then it was fundamentals and you played your position

[@gandydancer9710]

Nowadays they all play defense like the Washington Generals.

[@josemanuelcaballero1162]

Simple as that. They give you 2-3 m from 40 feet and you jack them if you have practiced them enough. Back then you won games with innate talent and guts. Now everything is rehearsed.

[@gandydancer9710]

@@josemanuelcaballero1162 LONG threes are STILL not a good shot.

[@TheGuru662]

Right

[@gregallan2842]

I once hit a shot from mid court with a second to go in the first half. Coach benched me to start the second "in case my head had got too big".

[@DarylDove-n9c]

Totally agree with Niq. One thing that wasn't mentioned was how many Big shots Bird hit in pressure situations or how he told the defense what was going to happen before it did.!!!

[@CBruce-r3t]

@user-oq6pn6lz1r Let us not get carried away, Larry Legend did not tell people his every move, as you are suggesting. You are referencing some occasions when he did it (as have other greats), but that was not his general demeanor. It discredits you when you make a valid point then totally embellish another point and present both as absolutes.

[@jeffmiller4506]

Yep, definition of the greatest shooter is when pressure is on. Give me Larry legend

[@DOWNBAD_Tay]

I like when it's not about race and guys from different ethnic groups defend each other 👏🏻

[@joecisneros2256]

@@CBruce-r3the did it more often than not so ur point is very invalid

[@CBruce-r3t]

@@joecisneros2256 Thank you for the laugh out loud momemt Joe

[@edpra7068]

I love the fact that these legends stand up for each other. I grew up watching these guys and , I can attest, they gave their heart and souls to the game. I love 80's/ 90''s NBA

[@JustNeedaBeerandPark]

Facts........Better than this generation....... But this generation is pretty good.

[@Rakeemgrant]

80's and 90's Basketball was amazing

[@javiervargas8391]

Facts over feelings, the nba progresses as does any sport, players get better, bigger, stronger, more athletic. You guys are just stuck in the past and can’t accept reality.

[@daniel8p]

⁠​⁠@@JustNeedaBeerandParkyour a idiot if u really think the 80s and 90s teams are better than nowadays teams lmao

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@javiervargas8391 Bigger? Ooo, a whopping - 1 bloody INCH in today's game over the 1960s, and the PEAK of the NBA was ballpark 2005 at a huge - 2 inches bigger. That's after adjusting for the change in how heights were measured, socks or bare feet in the 1960s to IN THEIR SHOES in recent years. Better? That peak seems to have been somewhere in the 1980s or 1990s. Today's players COMMON palm the ball. Since 2009 they can OFFICIALLY take up to 4 steps without a dribble - 1 step before that. ET CETERA. Stronger? I'll grant that ON AVERAGE, perhaps - but why is WILT considered to be the strongest player to ever play the game? More athletic? IFFY - perhaps on average, but not in the STARTING lineups.

[@MentLeee]

Forget what JJ is talking about, give me Bird for the last shot every freaking time

[@SamuelJ888]

Bird shot 32% from three in the postseason

[@ratman5106]

I want IGUODALA!!!

[@curandas8801]

@@SamuelJ888 if you look just at his clutch 3 shots I bet it's way over 50%

[@deadpool1966]

@Samuel J he would be getting easier looks in todays nba, an with that wild jumpshot he would probably draw a bunch of fouls considering players would have to jump high everytime

[@One.Zero.One101]

Also remember that the 3 point shootout in the 80s didn’t have 2-pointer balls in every rack. So Bird’s total would actually be higher if he competed today. Bird’s score of 24 would probably be 28 today and it would beat 95% of 3 point competitors today.

[@TheBeelzboss]

When Bird was playing as a kid, in jr high, and high schools, and plenty of college games there was no 3-point line. He was one of the first players to utilize the line and he transitioned to it seamlessly. These new players spent most of their lives practicing the 3-point shot...

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

To be fair, there WAS a 3 point line - in the ABA only - when Bird was in school. But I doubt Bird saw a lot of Pacer games in the part of the state he was in (not within WTTV Indianapolis coverage area). He probably DID learn of the shot during College - as one of his assistant coaches was Mel Daniels, who played pretty much his entire career in the ABA - and there was some discussion about adding it for a few years in the NBA before it finally happened.

[@qt3dot14ish]

Well stated in a brief comment.

[@HeatherRadcliffe-jd8lr]

​@@bricefleckenstein9666literally doesn't take away from anything he said...bro wrote a whole Bible for no reason..

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@HeatherRadcliffe-jd8lr The person I was posting to was WRONG - and that's what I was explaining. The whole "Bird never heard of the 3 point shot 'til he joined the NBA" concept is just a flat out lie or based on people that don't know the timeline of it.

[@zeked4200]

​@@HeatherRadcliffe-jd8lr A Bible? I don't even agree with him, but the guy wrote a paragraph...is your attention span really that short?

[@The_ZeroLine]

Parrish PUNCHED Lambeer in the face THREE times and didn’t a get personal foul.

[@johnnythekid4601]

sure he did.. he just wasnt ejected

[@brianmayabella5992]

You could get traumatized by playing in the 80s

[@dariopadovan1976]

Wtf are you talking about? 😂

[@351linzdoctor]

@@dariopadovan1976 If you were weak you died playing back then! Oh my finger hurts coach I'm going to sit out 5 games or coach I have a headache I'm going to take tomorrow off like these guys do today!😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@haworthlowell805]

​@@dariopadovan1976 Larry's trash talk would tramatize most guys now. LaBum would go crying home to his mommy after 5 minutes!

[@brianmayabella5992]

​@@dariopadovan1976the bad boys will slap the hell out of you. You could get stitches.

[@dariopadovan1976]

@@brianmayabella5992 they will all be in foul trouble after 5 minutes

[@timpride6276]

People forgot what respect is a long time ago.

[@michealtzitz5038]

Long out the window years ago man. I've played pick up games with these young guys and they even call fouls that aren't even fouls....no respect,weak and soft.

[@cchampaine179]

Facts

[@ThatMuhfugger420]

Why anybody would listen to Reddick's opinion is beyond me. Why is he even on TV anyway?

[@Jangocat]

You got me, I remember he was on the Sixers, he couldn't do anything but stand in the corner and wait for a pass. He was a journeyman in my mind.

[@sandroid711]

Shock jocking.Sometimes controversy helps ratings.People tend to watch that one person who annoys the fck out of them.😂

[@cz2165]

We will see if he can help the Lakers win.

[@markkostka6897]

To be a blowhard for clicks like Bayliss, Stephen Smith. They don't make money without clicks.

[@michaellee6016]

@@cz2165he won’t and he can’t. He’s not a players coach. They won’t respect him.

[@AndreInThe416]

Reggie Miller stated its easier to shoot 3s today because they protect the shooters.

[@chilldoc9638]

Ok? Not for curry, he gets triple teamed at half court

[@tyreek.6815]

That makes no sense when curry gets double teamed. We’re talking about curry not “shooters”

[@AndreInThe416]

@@tyreek.6815 it's the flagrants on landing

[@bimdiesl7031]

Reggie injured more defenders with that kick out motion of his legs when taking his jumper 🤣🤣🤣

[@cmack17]

Reggie Miller is a goofball amd a mediocre broadcaster.

[@alandoherty1332]

Larry could and would DOMINATE in todays game.... and he d ADPT!!.💯👍💯🏀🏀

[@degill76]

It was a completely different game in the 80's. Example: Larry Bird 3-point attempts for his best year 85-86 = 194. Curry's best year 15-16 = 886. Teams were more physical and the rules were less strict. It's a 3-point league now.

[@FreedomFighter2112]

When it mattered most...Most game-winners (last minute) of All-Time: #1) Kobe = 26 (in 1346 games) #2) Jordan = 25 (in 1072 games) #3) Bird. = 24 (in 897 games) However, when it came to overall game-winners ratio, here are the best of All-Time: #1) Bird = 2.67 #2) Jordan = 2.33
 #3) Kobe 1.93

[@FreedomFighter2112]

In the past 50 years, here are the highest Total Career Avg Stat Points (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK) #1) Jordan = 44.7 #2) LeBron = 44.4 #3) Bird = 43.1 #4) Kareem = 42.9 Curry is #31 with 37.5 That's just to put things into to perspective..

[@carlschiller5646]

@@FreedomFighter2112 yeah because box score stats mean everything when determining a players greatness, especially rebounds for a point guard😂

[@thetrib1]

@@FreedomFighter2112 it's like you're missing the argument...it was about best 3pt shooters of all time. lebron, jordan, kareem. are not in the convo.

[@jweezy5490]

Bird is pretty much the gold standard for shooting, first 50 40 90 member

[@aguacito3941]

When a 3 was needed for the win, Bird was MONEY... He jus wasn't hoisting up 3's!! 3x MVP.. Put some RESPEK'on it

[@thelogicalgiantsfan6707]

Exactly

[@stevenkopko5943]

The physicality of the NBA in the 80’s and 90’s was the greatest factor for great success for players like Bird, Magic, Dr.J and Jordan to be the most creative on their teams and will their bodies to scoring a bucket.

[@MrElpajita]

Does that change the 3pt%???? Because if it was 1/5, is 40% because of that?? LMFAO

[@144Souldier]

Wasn't that physical.

[@syyner1748]

​@@144Souldier 🤡

[@allaboutthemurzic]

Wilts time period was the most physical

[@steve4158]

Agree. Imagine teams today transported back in time to play against the Pistons under those old rules!!!

[@kermit415]

"If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game I'd choose Michael Jordan; If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life... I'd take Larry Bird." - Pat Riley.Aug 28, 2012. The NBA in the 80's was so much more physical than today's game.

[@ClareAmel]

You could get away with more “””physicality””” because half of NBA rosters were malnourished twinks ngl ngl

[@imnotdan37]

Phisicality is not just beating up people. And it has increased. See the 2000's and the 80's... In recent years the interpretations of the rules are protecting the offense, often too much in my sense of the spirit of the game. There are nuances.

[@jacobsteele7138]

A while ago on the Dan Patrick show Bird said Curry was the best shooter of all time. Patrick asked Bird if he was in the conversation. Bird laughed and said of course he is in the conversation.

[@samuelmuiruri4704]

I remember seeing that!😅

[@gandydancer9710]

Bit Curry IS the best shooter of all time. I remember saying something like that back before he was a star and could barely stay on the court because of his bad ankles. And I've been watching NBA since Wilt was a Warrior. Bird was a great shooter, but, no, not a top tier 3 point shooter. The percentages don't lie. (And this is not a knock on him. The three point shot is trash basketball. And Curry would have been a great scorer even if there were no three point line. He would just be shooting closer to the basket if real basketball was still being played.)

[@jweezy5490]

The difference is they changed the defensive rules years ago, zone defense is now a thing, it changed the league. Nobody talks about the fact you could now just double team Jordan every possession, so the spacing got farther to counter this. Larry was an elite shooter, but in his day it wasn't the game to sit in the corner, the man averaged 10 RBS for his career he was putting in work in the paint

[@Nr4747]

Well, true, but you could also just fragantly foul Jordan every possession while he was mid-air - and the Pistons did just that and plenty of it. So much so that the NBA was forced to introduce the flagrant foul-rule in 1990 to protect Jordan (and others, but mostly Jordan).

[@Ninjersey1]

Zone defense is trash usually what teams do when they can’t play defense lol jordan would destroy zones just like Kobe did he would be way more efficient 😂just stop glazing this era it’s trash

[@olblue3478]

@@Ninjersey1 jordan himself says that if zone defense existed his career might not be as great

[@redpillfreedom6692]

​@@olblue3478There's no evidence Jordan actually said that. Besides as the past couple of decades have shown, there's no evidence that zone defense has limited scoring. We just had a season with a record-setting number of players averaging 30 or 20 PPG. Stats have never been more inflated. Unless you want me to think LeBron was better at 38 than at 28.

[@WestbrickFansGotNoBrains]

​@@redpillfreedom6692 jordan did said that. Zone defense is like a trap. They wait and read the mistake you make and then double you when you did make mistake. Its also allows the defender to be more agressive with you knowing theres help defense behind. Bulls in the 90s. Were bitching and crying about teams such as knicks and pacer playing zone defense to the refs and ask the refs to call illegal defense. 😂

[@Force_RC21]

JJ is saying the the kind of defense has to deal with behind the 3pt line is nothing compared to what Bird faced out there. Now at the same time Steph doesn't face the same kind of defense that Bird faced in the paint.

[@jweezy5490]

You're not wrong that change in zone defense completely changed the game

[@ricoconde1772]

Someone who actually understood what JJ was talking about

[@Sorry-sk4kt]

This is what I was about to comment, he understands bird face more physicality overall but not from three

[@Ninjersey1]

Yeah but Bird didn’t have that landing rule for shooters could you imagine,Bird,Reggie miller,Ray Allen,so many shooters you don’t know about that that rule would’ve benefited

[@antiisolation4]

@@Ninjersey1 however no one was flying at bird for a 3pt Every play so that’s why it wasn’t implemented becuz there was no need bsck then you’d live with a 3pt being shot

[@willtech002]

Volume shooting can be misconceived at times. I know players whose 3 pt percentage increased the more they took more attempts like Damian Lillard. We will never know if Larry Bird's 3pt percentage would have been way better if he attempted more threes.

[@gedeon179]

I haven't been a professional player and I don't consider myself an expert, but J.J. doesn't comment on 2 details that I consider very important. When he was born, the 3-point line already existed, he was able to practice as a child. That line began to be used in Bird's rookie season, an 50/40/90 guy in some seasons.Then you have to differentiate between the words physical and athletic. Now there are much more athletic players but basketball is less physical. Far fewer contacts are allowed. Normal fouls at that time would now be sanctioned

[@FreedomFighter2112]

When it mattered most...Most game-winners (last minute) of All-Time: #1) Kobe = 26 (in 1346 games) #2) Jordan = 25 (in 1072 games) #3) Bird. = 24 (in 897 games) However, when it came to overall game-winners ratio, here are the best of All-Time: #1) Bird = 2.67 #2) Jordan = 2.33
 #3) Kobe 1.93

[@vernonhurley1300]

Great analytics.

[@dickiedooda.3271]

Pat Reilly once said, when the game is on the line I want Magic shooting, when my life is on the line,I want Bird.

[@kevinp7300]

End of story! 💥💥💥

[@Ray1969.]

Freedom Fighter has said it all!! Case closed

[@lamefart]

​@@dickiedooda.3271 Magic? MJ as in Michael Jordan. 🤣🤣🤣

[@neonskyrain4024]

Back in the 80s player doesn't focus too much on 3s except for 3 pt especialists because was different back then. 36% without much practice? Imagine if Bird focused on that sh1t.

[@jester556]

bro. if bird and curry changed teams, curry would literally be shooting 60%

[@sportvibes4121]

Bird would demolish these swethearts just by his mentality, imagine him telling these guys he will shot with his left hand or tell them from where exactly he will shot and what type of shot he will launch. Embarassing realy

[@wakaikozy6084]

​@jester not true. If those players in 80's knew Curry's shooting prowes, they would get extremely physical with him.

[@jester556]

@@wakaikozy6084 curry gets held, defenders stay on his hip, and the average nba player now is 10x better than back then

[@ramborigs]

@@jester556 10 times softer too

[@mycommentpwnz]

Uhhhh, the NBA from the 80's (particularly in the PLAYOFFS) was, literally, almost as physical as the NHL. (That's not an exaggeration, either. If you went into the paint, you were going to get body-checked, or hacked, as HARD AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. The goal was, literally, to prevent guys from routinely going to the rim by INFLICTING PAIN.)

[@juliusbailey7384]

Mad dog is absolutely correct on this topic

[@clifflawrence7479]

I have watched the game for many years and the ones that I watched that were just hammered more than any were MJ,Shaq and Bird. No one let those guys breathe.

[@CreativeBigL]

Plummer's and grocery clerks had to mug players because they were not athletes

[@clifflawrence7479]

@@CreativeBigL I remember one plumber that was 7ft 1, had over a 40 inch vertical, ran the 40 in 4.6 and could bench 500lb. I would have hated to get mugged by that guy!

[@ramborigs]

@@CreativeBigL When people make the plumbers argument it just shows their age and lack of ball knowledge. Usually stans of Lebron

[@jamesmartin4679]

Bottom line was Curry grew up with 3 point line. Just started when Bird came along

[@Striated]

The 80’s style of play was brutal all the way down to jr high school level. Now it’s way easier to play on every level.

[@woodlymarcello2706]

Lots of love to Dominique. One of the most exciting players to watch in NBA history. He was an awesome player.

[@JDwJC11]

Traveling (esp via the gather step) is a huge reason why players shoot a better percentage today. It allows players to set their feet and properly adjust the ball in their hands in order to shoot the ball.

[@gandydancer9710]

And it creates unearned separation, specifically on the step back or sidestep 3.

[@leovang9938]

Mad Dog funny for saying you only watch KZbin lmfao

[@somersetbassett4580]

To an 14 year NBA vet no less

[@will-zj5gq]

@@somersetbassett4580 about 3 point shooting no less

[@psalmsurfer1]

he wasnt wrong

[@psalmsurfer1]

@@somersetbassett4580 Redicks a blowhard. and dogger was right

[@psalmsurfer1]

@@will-zj5gq lol Redicks a clown

[@ov9879]

Todays NBA is designed to score points. It is a different game than the 90's. If today's 3 point shooters had to play back then they would not be putting up the same numbers because of the physicality of the game back then. When you have to go the whole game with someone hand checking you, pushing you or beating you up you will not score the same amount of points as today. Basically the players today can not be touched so they will score a lot more points. Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, etc dominated in an era of physical basketball. If they in their primes would play today they might average 50 or 60 points a game because it is a puff league right now.

[@YTzaecapone]

Lies

[@lebronjamesharden3958]

lmao 50 or 60 points a game

[@NileValleyMade]

Did you see that Clippers vs Kings game 02/24/23 176-175 despite the OTs there was no defense all 4 qts 😂

[@YTzaecapone]

@@NileValleyMade cap

[@ov9879]

@@NileValleyMade I did not see that one. But, it is no surprise. It's all offense these days.

[@macoi3008]

The argument is there was less physicality when defending the 3. When Bird shoots 3s, defenders where not up close to block the 3.

[@BmoreAce24]

Exactly its like they missed the whole point and started talking about physicality in the paint

[@polishpimp4233]

to be fair if you foul bird while shooting the 3 with an almost 90 percent shooting percentage for a career... yeah do the math.

[@macoi3008]

@@polishpimp4233 Larry Bird shooting percentage is less than 50% and an even lower 3 point percentage.

[@dariopadovan1976]

@@macoi3008 Bird 3point was less than 38%. Redick was better than Bird with an awesome 41.6% making him one of the best ever in terms of total 3points made and average. And he's such a gentleman cause he never came up with that even if he could just to avoid provoking a further controversy.

[@dariopadovan1976]

@@BmoreAce24 it's a good excuse for every occasion. I started using it when I have an argument with my wife and it works!

[@marcsugi]

I used to rock that Wilkins 21 jersey when everybody seems to own Jordan 23 red.

[@gentlemankane668]

Bird is the greatest three point shooter under pressure. When he makes the points with what’s at stake, it’s what makes him the best.

[@Gamevet]

I remember going to a game in the 80s, between the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs. I was shocked to see all of the hard contact that was going on.

[@lonnieodom8036]

NBA basketball today is terrible. All they want to do is shoot 3's. 7 footers shoot threes. No jump hooks, no sky hooks, no post ups. Foreign players made the NBA worse. They are slow, soft, but they can shoot. NBA players play foreign style basketball now. Kareem, Moses M., Barkley, Karl M., Bird, etc.. would get 35 points by the 4th quarter.

[@nicholasdalby5178]

Steve Kerr by JJ's standards is not close to one of the best three-point shooters ever, and Kerr certainly is among the best the league has ever seen. Kerr barely shot the ball at all. in fact, his VOLUME year was an enormous per game average of 2.9 attempts from three... he shot 51.5% that year smfh. and this guy is now a head coach?

[@kennethharrison9409]

Who had more bruises, players from Birds era, or players from this one?

[@matthewpace5834]

I think Bird came back into a game with a broken cheek bone when his team needed him. Didn't LeBron leave a game with a hangnail?

[@Ewabound571]

Todays players got more bruises… in their feelings. 😆

[@fobinc]

​@@matthewpace5834 the only one I knew was him not playing due to a mild stomach cramp.

[@kingpro192]

If Larry Bird played today he'd average 40. It's a soft era today!

[@desheaj1]

big facts

[@CreativeBigL]

He ain't guarding anybody today😂

[@dariopadovan1976]

No it’s not. It’s a technically way better era

[@Terryhendog]

Bird is a smaller Joker

[@One.Zero.One101]

Also remember that the 3-point shootout in the 80s didn’t have 2-pointer balls in every rack. So Bird’s total would actually be higher if he competed today. Bird’s score of 24 would probably be 28 today and it would beat 95% of 3-point competitors today.

[@BrianWalden-v6o]

JJ Riddick is a decent player was a decent player. Hopefully he can coach the LA Spark. I mean the LA Lakers and be decent but Larry Bird was the goat. Michael Jordan is the goat JJ. Reddick is a spark in the pan.

[@robertdaniels3029]

The Bad Boys would run roughshod over todays league...

[@Refreshment01]

But then JJ is wrong about Bird being among the greates shooters of all time. If its just about math, there are certainly guys with more volume & best percentage in overall shots than Bird. Anyway, that isnt as relevant. Saying Curry got more physical abuse than bird ishard to believe.

[@matthewpace5834]

I don't know too much about basketball, but I was a semi-pro soccer player in England in the late 70's early 80's. Looking at soccer today we see some great players, but there is so much protection it is almost a different game now. The likes of Pele, George Best, Dennis Law, they produced on the field, while being taken out at the knees with not even a foul being called. You simply cannot compare different eras. You have to plug in variables as well as just stats.

[@dbsti3006]

You just described it well. Your reference makes sense to basketball too. They have all these penalties now and players are more protected, but what baffles me is that with the added protection and more advanced medicine, the players today still stay out of way more games due to injury when both soccer and basketball two or 3 decades ago, players played in more games without sitting out.

[@theeconomytraveler9999]

And this is why I cannot watch soccer today. Too soft...too many whistles...too many pretend to be tough guys. I stopped watching the world cup a long time ago. I played pro basketball in europe and it´s the same way. Meaning, it´s quite hard to watch NBA games.

[@matthewpace5834]

@@theeconomytraveler9999 totally agree mate. The amount of flopping around is embarrassing. There is actually discussion taking place at the administrative level to stop the clock when the ball goes out or when a foul is called. The hope is that it will clamp down on time wasting. A study was performed showing that only 59% of the game is actually being played. The powers that he are actually concerned that the fans are not getting value for money. That's a shocker right there.

[@theeconomytraveler9999]

@@matthewpace5834 Yeah, so we´re talking about only 50 minutes of effective play from a 90 minute game. So we both know that the fans aren´t getting their moneys worth. Take care.

[@Ricciuto1980]

That Laimbeer Bird photo is priceless

[@brianmauldin7478]

Boxing out on a FT

[@John-lv6uj]

My Top 5. Center: 1. Welt Chamberlin 2. Michel Jordan 3. Larry Bird 4. Erving Johnson 4. Stephen CURRY POINT GUARD. You people forgot WALTER DAVIS. Go see Walter Davis.

[@chrisdurante2544]

If someone grabbed Bird like that too often, it would cost that player,dearly

[@KingBrewHA]

Larry fking blew his back out building a driveway in the offseason while Steph’s taking his wife’s instas selfies……. Jj tell me bout physicality these days🤣🤣🤣

[@Gogo-pe8fu]

Jj think cuz they chuck up more three nows they are better shooters

[@will-zj5gq]

that has nothing to with the court. i agree with bird playing more physicality but this example makes no sense💀

[@KingBrewHA]

@@will-zj5gq cause its not an example its to show an era. they say all they want about this and that, but refuse to acknowledge how people lived back then. steph is taking selfies enjoying a kings life every offseason with 600 doctors/specialist/you name it to make sure he can do what he does and maintain his illustrious career. so much money to make sure you dont ever have to build a driveway on your own. back in larrys day they just went about their business in the offseason .... you dont think that plays into their career, style of play and the abilities they had from season to season? i love both players equally and hands down do think steph is the greatest shooter of alltime and its not even close. but dont judge a man for the times he went through. judge him for what he endured, how he carried himself, and the accomplishments he created. larry will always stand above steph and anyone of this new generation. not cause the new gen isnt great. cause the new gen had it easy cause of what larry and the old boys did.

[@ciearlrichardson3132]

🥱🥱The old school NBA is like old people stuck in there old ways... Not thinking about the new generational player's that's 100 times more talented.... The old is out and the new is in...... Senior citizens get over it.... How many rings does Dominique or Sam Mitchell has 0🤔🥱🥱.... Exactly... No "points" needed..

[@KingBrewHA]

@@ciearlrichardson3132 oh we talking rings now?! Big OG bill russell is what then?! nobody gonna obtain his greatness and success hes seen. won on every level played through racism and any hardship an individual could go through. but tell me how these new school, ass wiped silver spoon fed, overpaid babies got it hard. ill wait

[@jpchandler868]

facts bird is one of the best shooters ever, quit talking to dudes who compares these dudes to 80s players,more physical, less shots,ran the shot clock,and the game was played completely different and 10 times more competitive

[@John-lv6uj]

Raleigh Simmons coached by Fred Tex Winter. Stephen Curry could out play Larry Bird any day of the WEEK. Stephen Curry is a better Shooter, overall Stephen Curry is a better player. The game has changed. Bird on his best day couldn’t guard Stephen Curry. I shoot better than Bird.

[@shivasirons6159]

I played pickup games in the 70\80,s when basketball was BRUTAL! Remember that time McHale clothes lined rambis? I think they may have even blew the whistle.

[@cjrrun]

JJ has no clue. Let Bird play today and he would school these players along with Magic

[@dylanlanzuela7305]

Bird was a Mix between Luka and Jokic,. People forget Larry was 6'10" lol

[@isiahholmes7712]

This is the dumbest argument I always see. Well this guy would have. You don’t know what he would have did. And jj is right one of the greatest all around scorers but not from 3 he’s not top 5

[@dylanlanzuela7305]

@@isiahholmes7712 Steph will be useless in the 70s when there were no 3point line yet

[@cmack17]

​@@dylanlanzuela7305 You know that his made shots would still count as 2, right?

[@isiahholmes7712]

@@dylanlanzuela7305 useless lmao really? Like he isn’t well rounded obviously he does have a middle range greatest free throw shooter and also can get to the basket like the casualness in the comment is crazy and I’m not a steph fan whatsoever but stop it

[@presto6944]

In that clip jj didn’t say it is more physical today. The statement that he made was that they are more physical off the ball on Steph curry specifically. And that the perimeter wasn’t guarded as hard back then than now. The 80s and 90s Was clearly more physical of a game all around especially in the paint area.

[@gettinmine6604]

Thank you!!!

[@c3beme24]

Was waiting for this comment

[@DanielDeSoto-zs8cs]

I have seen plenty of Curry shots were there was nobody around him. Watch 80s basketball, of course the perimeter was guarded.

[@OxygenC2]

Not really. We see those clips of Reggie Miller pushing, shoving, and clawing just to get to his spots. Perimeter players say John Stockton dragged his nails on their arms to get free. Curry with all due respect don't need to do that in today's game.

[@OK-gk1rp]

And he was still wrong! With the holding and pushing it was harder to get open back then, the final separation would come from a stonewall screen to get the shooter open. Screens back then would almost make you lose consciousness.

[@capitanfuturo594]

Larry Bird was the best all-around player in NBA history. *Who the hell is JJ who?*

[@carlschiller5646]

you're delusional

[@upy0ur5]

An insanely bitter man since he has and will never reach Larry Bird's accomplishment. He officially sealed the deal the day he decided to retire.

[@carlschiller5646]

@@upy0ur5 lmao JJ Redick is the least hateful or bitter person in all of sports media. He only said the truth

[@upy0ur5]

@@carlschiller5646 hes got both hate and bitterness coursing through his veins. He wouldn't have gotten so offended by the statement about bird being great if he didnt frown excessively. He reminds me of people bitter about Lebron and MJ from both fan bases. Can't hide that to save his life.

[@greywarden5513]

Come on man, Celtics fan and I’d never say he was the best all around Player, that’s MJ or Lebron. Larry was great but that’s way too much

[@enthronedking]

Steph Curry has to deal with defenses that are a lot quicker and more athletic than they used to be - true. More physical? Not in a million years. That's completely absurd. If anything 80's and 90's NBA was physical to a fault.

[@raidergainzx5290]

The thing about bird is, if you challenged him right now, hes accept, and probably win. He has kobes mentality with a shot like ray allen or reggie miller. He disnt have as many 3s because the game was generally played mid range and in the paint. Today most of the game is played behind the arch to mid range. Thats why you have more volume shooters. Both generations were/are dope. Theyre just different. As far as greates of all time discussions in anything they really need to dedine the scope going forward. There are alot of individual ways that can be broken down..

[@gilbertbrown4183]

Different era no comparisons.

[@piggsy20]

Thats why these arguments go nowhere

[@wock4626]

Stephen a telling people to calm down. I love it baby😂😂😂

[@pleaseshutup7053]

You know it’s nonsense when Stephen a doesnt want to hear nonsense

[@BiggRuss88]

Larry Bird and Reggie Miller will always be better than Steph in my book. They drained 3-pointers back when real defense was played. Wardell is frail and wouldn't last five years in the 80s with that ankle of his. How long would he be injured for if he took a clothesline like Kurt Rambis did from the Kevin McHale?

[@jasoncarreiro86]

Today shooters definitely shoot a three with more volume. They may have a higher percentage, bird shot under duress, for game winners. These guys are shooting open threes most of the time, because nobody’s playing defense like they used to. And Reddick just sound so delusional when he talks, he’s horrible.

[@drew63215]

Yesterday's game "Get up and play ball". Today's game "Flagrant 10, an ejection, and 10 game suspension".

[@eugeniomorichon5624]

Jonkler

[@kaiz3nberg]

Lol I don’t like this Mad dog fella but he on point Steph be getting ALL the calls.

[@scott783]

Per basketball reference , bird for his career averages 1.9 threes a game taken , made .7 threes a game for a .376 percentage. Basically , he was a 38% shooter on threes taking basically only 2 threes a game. If he had been allowed to take 10 , 12 , 14 threes a game like now , he would definitely make 4 -6 a game or more It wasn’t shot and it wasn’t practiced like now