Bob Cousy Fires Back at JJ Redick for Referring to 1950s NBA Players as 'Plumbers and Firemen'

THE ODD COUPLE - Chris Broussard & Rob Parker react to Bob Cousy's response to J.J. Redick labeling 1950s basketball players 'plumbers and firemen.'
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[@longhitter84]

MJ paid homage to his predecessors and always talks about them with much reverence. That's not old school. It's just respect and human decency.

[@stephatkinson8606]

Here's my problem with MJ, Bird and Magic. Imagine a football player saying this about Dick Butkus? Guys like Ray Lewis, LT, and most of the greats would shut him down and put him in his place! In the NBA there isn't that kind of respect for those psst guys. And the reason is if you count the rings of Russell and the stats of Wilt it shuts that Goat conversation down!

[@Tl-mh7gq]

@@stephatkinson8606 that’s because basketball changed so much. What respect u want ??? If u average 50 points and 25 rebounds. Wilt won 11 championships. But it didn’t have 30 teams. And the league wasn’t majority black. They shouldn’t even be counted as today’s basketball

[@ramsesstafford4640]

@@stephatkinson8606 if Jordan played nowadays he would dominate PERIOD. I don't care about any evolution theories Jordan is that dude you better ask somebody. His style birth the way you see players play nowadays now of course he wasn't alone you got guys like Hakeem Olajuwon Ect but the problem young kids have with Jordan is thinking he made a bigger business imprint on the game and not literally changed the way people play the game.

[@philthornton1382]

@@Tl-mh7gq because without the players who came before as Jordan acknowledged famously, he wouldn’t be what he is. Disrespecting the past is a fools game

[@stephatkinson8606]

@@ramsesstafford4640 I grew up in the 80'and 90's, I watched him. Why is it Jordan could play in any era but the older guys couldn't? Have you ever heard Jordan tell you who he patterned his game after? David Thompson! Who would have been an all time great if it wasn't for drugs. David Thompson looked up to and watched Charlie Scott who came before him. The list goes on and on... but make no mistake those guys in the old era could play in any era!

[@Quan1992]

Taking trains to game in snowstorms, not being respected, no player freedom, no unions, no trainers, no assistant coaches. Hell of a time to be playing basketball. They deserve all the respect.

[@stebossm3195]

That's the whole point. They didn't have the best conditions to be the best players... these new players are put in the optimal conditions to be snippers.

[@HomerunsamSOSA]

@@stebossm3195 that's the same as any job fr thats no different than me taking a train to work.

[@brandong5676]

💯

[@Quan1992]

@@stebossm3195 ur right. It’s a shame that they are so disrespected though.

[@Quan1992]

@@HomerunsamSOSA but it’s taking a few trains for instance Boston to Minneapolis and playing a professional basketball game when u get off of it. Players would say they would sometimes get to the arenas 30 minutes before tip off cuz something was delayed. Players now would never have to work under those conditions.

[@ChaoticMacho]

We have to treat the old guys with respect because I’m sure kids in 2070 will call Kobe and LeBron “frauds” or not as good but we living right now know how great they are. We need be careful

[@NewEarthSon]

Your absolutely right. Nikola Jokic is a 2 time back to back MVP with athleticism of a 1950 player. Maybe even less. I already hear kids in 2070 already talking nonsense about him and his era overall. But like you said, we are living in the present now so we know how good he is.

[@apierre6]

Exactly. 70 years from now, they might have bionic players or genetically modified athletes and they will laugh at guys like Jordan or LeBron and call them plumbers and janitors

[@mike_3613]

Oh man I wish someone would use this argument on air because you’re so right man. They are prisoners of the moment

[@thereaper5560]

So we gonna sit here and act like the old generation don't talk down this generation now

[@BabyMamaMaker]

Sounds like LeBron fans. “MJ played with plumbers”

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

"I feel like, yo, what you get from me is from him. I don't get five championships here without him because he guided me so much and gave so much great advice." - Kobe on MJ

[@iang7244]

Kobe and MJ literally overlapped tho. Not the same as a player from over half a century ago.

[@coldchilln]

@@iang7244 I still think if Yu take a player from way back when and give him an off season. It’s not like these guys can’t learn new moves are new ways to shoot. Some of the shots back then didn’t even count as 3’s. So we’ll have more shooters I think.

[@93vibezz]

@Aaron9 but that’s not the point

[@HomerunsamSOSA]

@Aaron9 Colby is a cheese

[@easyewolf6108]

@@HomerunsamSOSA and Kobe is a type of beef. He got the wrong food name.. smh..

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Dissing a past legend is like dissing your parents or grandparents. You won't be here without them, JJ. You're not making millions without the people before you.

[@geronimopratt7976]

My parents and grandparents raised me, athletic legends didn't. This analogy doesn't work. Criticism today is the new diss and everyone talks in semantics.

[@G4MBIT]

@@geronimopratt7976 it works on pro basketball players like JJ coz without the past legends, he wouldn’t be living this life.

[@JoeMomma..]

​@@geronimopratt7976 you missed the point completely 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@OrondeBranch]

It’s not actually dissing them…you have to put feelings aside and understand what he’s trying to say.

[@rellllzzz2473]

He made a statement, if you become rich and your grandparents weren't it'd be a factual statement to say you are, you can make that statement without dissing someone

[@gr8fuldad815]

I want to see JJ go through fireman training. 🤣

[@johndarius18]

​@Beery and Elgin Baylor

[@michaelstover6778]

Beery u are an absolutely fool… those dudes had no shot clock and a 6’4 red duck would smoke these old msn

[@MrPiccalo3000]

That wasn’t the point of what was being said

[@joker321boom]

@@michaelstover6778 jj cant defend a shadow and would get cooked

[@ctnative203]

bum couldn't make a team and retired ! your greatest asset is shooting 3s in a 3 point era and you still dont get picked up lol i dont want to hear him talk basketball !

[@jjackson6928]

Gotta give 1950 & 1960 players their credit. They were the best at that time. I watched Cousy, Bill, Wilt, & Baylor play. They were great players

[@mybrotherskeeper5121]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@steveyoung4584]

They were absolutely great players….for their era. So were the ‘55 and ‘57 Chevy cars. It doesn’t take anything away from them to say that todays players are better. Each generation should improve on the last.

[@mybrotherskeeper5121]

@@steveyoung4584 y’all mixing it up jj not talking about the superstars of that time he talking about the role players

[@boonebeasley9622]

Lol they are not great players

[@pedrofior2562]

@@boonebeasley9622 JJ was a good player? Dude sucked. Never won anything. Avg 12 points for a career and he was shooter, LMAO.

[@JCT1926]

We're all standing on the shoulders of the people of the past. Without these people we're nothing. Cousy really developed the pg position, btw.

[@Sternisgod1]

lol, can you imagine a "stud" like Anthony Davis or Joel Embiid going up against a Prime Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt would absolutely demolish them. He was bigger/faster/stronger 50 years ago. Imagine with today's training.

[@bigboner23]

AD is a power forward…..and embiid would hold his own vs wilt

[@jonpascual9476]

@@bigboner23 hold he's own? maybe from the outside but in the paint he's barbecue chicken 🐔 like shaq says 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SS-fb7zd]

@@bigboner23 embid never had to bang down low a whole game night in night out against folks just as big as him who can play. Magic Johnson said wilt would dominate them at 55 years old in UCLA pick up games

[@joshportie]

You mean today's steroids.

[@joshportie]

​@bigboner23 not a chance

[@craigosterberg5045]

Great players can play in any era.

[@charlesljones2454]

That's what I've said ....great players respond to the players around them.

[@2robjenkins]

That’s not true, we want to believe it but it’s not. Bob Cousy was great for his era but his game is high school level in this era. Any other arguments are just hypothetical. It’s not disrespect, it’s reality.

[@mrj5695]

Not true

[@fleedejesus942]

@@2robjenkins facts. It’s idiotic even having an argument 😭 MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN dribble with both hands and shoot from half court 😒 old people like to think the world is getting worse and not better. For people like that, the future is no place for them 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@craigosterberg5045]

They have a film of Jerry West going 3 quarters of the court in a playoff game in less than 3 seconds and winning the games. Bill Russell was an Olympic athlete.Wilt Chamberlain had the strength and stamina to average over 48 minutes a games. Elgin Baylor great scorer, rebounding, ball handling. He had a way of hanging in the air as the other player went down. Bob Cousy could handle the ball like Kyrie Irving. I saw these players in person They could play in any a era. They just don’t have enough film to prove it.

[@danielpagan2848]

One of the benefits of today is being able to study film and copy moves left and right. Guys like Cousy they were not studying film they were coming up with their own moves.

[@regiecruz7490]

facts

[@sydguitar99]

They played in hard soled converses back then, imagine the toll it took on their spines and knees. I know guys who cant even shoot around in converses without their feet hurting after 15 mins

[@mca217]

Playing in Chucks is hell. Salute to the greats who endured that hardship.

[@gregoryevans8179]

Man I played in Converse on concrete courts all day never had any problems. Of course it wasn’t the grind of an NBA season, but my feet never hurt. They had rubber soles by the way.

[@truthiscensored]

A lot of the shoes back then were of better quality then today, same way cars back then were made of better material (steel) and didn't fold easily in an accident

[@WhathehadasSole]

@@truthiscensored if people read up on these players era. They'll see that they did fitted insoles and feet wraps to support them in those well built converses

[@onidtubes]

I believe it was mentioned in the last dance when Jordan wore his first air jordan's in one game in his last run with the Bulls. By the end of the game, his feet was soaked in blood.

[@1teela]

So much depends on the rules of the game. If the modern player was put back then, playing the way they play now, he would be called for palming incessantly, have to take fouls that they would never have to take now, If you look at how Oscar Robinson dribbled, it was a different game. They would also be called for traveling all the time.

[@brandoncooper2313]

Not enough people get what you're saying. Even 20 years ago a lot of the way people dribble would be called a carry.

[@Didyourmomtwice]

Who the hell is Oscar ROBINSON?

[@freetheworld2671]

nonsense they would tailor their play to the rules, what we know is they're a hell of a lot better shooters point blank period.

[@sokit2em]

Especially the defenisve rules. Thats HUGE factor in how players are judged in their era.

[@michaelstover6778]

Lol there was no shock clock

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

JJ Redick is just a kid. A role player dissing a legend who actually was INVENTING moves 70 years ago. It's so easy to copy someone and improve it. But the main idea came from the inventor. He did most of the brainstorming.

[@yourescum497]

He’s a scrub. Gleague players would wreck players from back then. The avg height was only 6”5 in the league. So Tacko Falls would have avg insane numbers back then.

[@Gnofg]

@@yourescum497 This is one of the stupidest arguments. I have watched since 1965. You never compare players of different eras. You only compare how they did with their contemporaries. Here are two examples Babe Ruth hit more HR's than entire teams and he was also a HOF pitcher. There are many sprinters faster than Jesse Owens. Who do you remember Jesse Owens. JJ kind of dissed Dave DeBuscherre. Not only was DeBuscherre the best Power forward of the sixties and mid seventies with a great outside shot. He also played major league baseball with a sub 3.00 ERA. He is an elite athlete and JJ is not close to him. How many people played 2 sports besides Bo Jackson?Deion did but he kind of sucked at baseball..

[@gnielsen07]

@@yourescum497 you a fool for this comment. The average height today is 6’6”. 1 inch difference. Also, the centers of that time were the same average height as todays

[@anthonyanderson9303]

@@Gnofg agreed with all your points except for the Deion baseball jab. He was actually very good just didn't dedicate himself to it like he did football. Had the braves won the world series in 92 he most likely would have been series mvp

[@Gnofg]

@@anthonyanderson9303 journeyman,. mediocre fielder, bad arm so so hitter. for being unbelievably fast not much of a base stealer. Brian Jordan was a better baseball player by far and an all pro safety.

[@Chessbox09]

I feel like NBA is the one major sport where past legends are always getting slandered. Baseball reveres past greats, along with NFL and boxing. Past NBA greats get disrespected a lot.

[@bigpoppa3999]

Because it's one the few sports that has evolved immensely over time. Not only is the skill level far superior then before, the average NBA player today is simply bigger, faster and stronger than ever before.

[@dpistons149]

@@bigpoppa3999 but hand checking has been taken out of the game. Stephen Curry would still be great but it would be harder to come up and jack up the threes does if a Forearm was in your hip at all times. Look how KD was broken by physical defense by Boston.

[@denistuohy2535]

The NBA is basically insulting to its legends, the NHL, MLB, NFL, Boxing and other sports have a reverence when talking about their legends. It’s really disrespectful to the past players.

[@bigpoppa3999]

@@dpistons149 stop the nonsense. If players like john Stockton thrived in that era then curry would too. And KD had a bad series. Y'all acting like this the first time anybody played physical with KD. It ain't.

[@dpistons149]

@@bigpoppa3999 nonsense? Did you read my comment. I said Curry would still be great…just not as good due to more physical defense.

[@craigtidwell7492]

I'm glad he clapped back to that disrespect.

[@mace2gorc872]

The nerve of JJ. Dude hasn't won anything nor has he ever been the best player on any team he played for and he calling top players from that era Firemen and plumbers? Glad he was put in his place by Cousy.

[@Doknot-tb9ey]

We need more old school players to clap back at the media for the disrespect that they get.

[@bGzzzzz]

If JJ even tried to play in that era he would’ve QUIT because it would’ve been too hard with the conditions they had to face.

[@Rich-tb6uh]

The common denominator in eras is heart and determination, the great players of every era just want it more

[@alant9517]

It's those firemen and plumbers who paved the way for players today. The young players need to bring paying up to the legends that built this game

[@44oksland81]

Bird and magic pave the way

[@peters4115]

Yeah but I feel like everyone is forgetting why JJ said that in the first place, he was sick of these old heads saying some great modern player isn’t as good as a great legend because of their accolades in era with a much lower skill cap and competition level. Bob Cousey, even with the benefits of modern training etc, is not winning a MVP in the league today. He isn’t making 13 all star games either. Like he’d be good, but c’mon man using those accolades as a cop out to saying he’s a better basketball player than CP3 or Kyrie is ridiculous.

[@datsapaddlin6449]

@@44oksland81 Bob Cousy’s flash paved the way for the NBA being a fun gave to watch. He was a showman.

[@christophergraves3113]

@Slimeballllll actually nba was dying until bird and magic came up

[@welfareleech1525]

thats not what the debate is about. The competition Bob played against looked like it was a 9th grade high school team. of course you can rack stats up and great plays. weak competition. Look at Dwight Howard over seas. couldn't score a basket in the nba now hes scoring 50 points. please

[@nysydmark4121]

Completely agree with Cousy: “People with less talent will always try to make a name for themselves by criticizing other people and hopefully getting some attention and perhaps increasing their credibility.” JJ and Perkins are pretty much the same.

[@christianmendoza2703]

Russo has even less talent then JJ and Perk. I think JJ was a harsh with the Cousy comment because Russo is of the mind that Cousy is the greatest PG ever and he often speaks to things without facts and he yells super loud over people who disagree. Chris and Rob dont put the whole exchange into context Russo was already annoying everyone at first take with his comments and JJ does not like the dude so Russo got under his skin hence the harsh critique of Cousy. I think Cousy is a top 75 player but I dont think many would consider him the best PG and you cant even say of his era because Oscar Robertson was in his era and everyone in from that era said he wasnt only the best PG but probably the best player regardless of position.

[@stephatkinson8606]

I don't agree with Russo but for JJ to put down Russo's opinion doesn't make sense! You don't win 6 championships by accident he was way ahead of his time with his play and for this guy with his smug ass attitude talking like his word is gospel passes me off! That's not my Era and like I said I don't agree with Mad Dog, but I respect those guys and what they did for the game...

[@kingad8869]

@@stephatkinson8606 You don't get six championships by accident, you get then by your team drafting Bill Russell.

[@stephatkinson8606]

@@kingad8869 I hear you on that, look I'm the one of the biggest Russell fans that's out there. But Cousy was great himself! I think he one MVP one year not sure, but I think he did. And remember he brought Ina style no one had ever seen before him. A lot of people think that's easy, but yet they drool all over Steph Curry for what he has done. Cousy should get that same treatment...

[@kingad8869]

@@stephatkinson8606 Bruh, you and i both know that as "great" as Cousy was, most of his legacy is being Russell's teammate. Was he a great passer, sure. Could he score a little, sure. But it's pretty obvious that Russell was gonna dominate no matter who his PG was. Cousy was like the 50s David Robinson before Duncan. Russell kinda saves his legacy.

[@johnidiaquez1303]

The benefit of being able to “carry” the ball and travel all the time would have changed their game. You can’t make those moves back then

[@beatease5992]

Which makes them more skilled back in the day

[@nekaneka-lo2js]

Wow,with all of the types of dribble changes these guys do you REALLY think they couldn't? If the NBA came this day and announced travel rules to be like the 60s thru 90s...........they'd literally adapt in one game lol

[@dylanallen7720]

@@beatease5992 so you think players from the 1950’s are more skilled than todays nba players?

[@danieljeffersonful]

We know you can't hoop lol

[@beatease5992]

@@dylanallen7720 From a rule standpoint yes I do, more fundamentally sound, but athletically no I don't. So maybe I worded it wrong, I can say it was more of a team game basketball IQ wise

[@zooluRaider24]

I was watching John Madden talk about the older players that he used to coach. He was saying there is no doubt that they can beat the teams today. That was about 10 years ago. But, I agree. They used to put pads on those days during practice. These days you can only do it once a week. They might be a little bigger these days. But you can't buy toughness.

[@Peakfreud]

Lol, Respect to Cousey 93yrs old And social media beefing 💪

[@garse70]

Classy response. All the players he mentioned could play in any era. Made it funny too.

[@raheimspells2606]

In today's era you have the luxury of watching all the greats and stealing there moves.

[@arcee3208]

Agreed. Those players didn't have players to look up to.

[@BigNickEnergy5]

This kinda like the Jordan- lebron argument. Jordan was the standard for Lebron to follow and set a goal for. Jordan was following nobody he just went out there hooped and became the greatest

[@arcee3208]

@@BigNickEnergy5 even Jordan had David Thompson and Dr. J by his own admission. Also Marques Johnson was admired by Jordan.

[@turokken]

Definitely an underrated point right here. Did any of you see earlier this season there was a couple times when Andrew Wiggins pulled of a couple Penny Hardaway inspired Spin Move-Fade Aways? It was insane, the athleticism and coordination needed to pull of that move is insane. He studied Penny's moves and had been practicing it, and then was able to pull it off a couple times back when the Dubs had the best record in the first 1/4 of the season. The evolution of the game is passed on each generation

[@BigNickEnergy5]

@@arcee3208 I get those were players Jordan admired but he didn’t look at them like that he just hooped at maximum effort and became goat. Lebron on the other hand you can tell had people in his ear since he was 4 saying “you gone be greater than Jordan” nothing wrong with that im just saying Jordan set the bar for lebron to follow

[@elchichosantana6410]

Old timers played even thet were injured. There's no Load Management that time. No Flagrant Fouls. Just pure Basketbrawl.

[@bradleyparks812]

Cousy has done more than anything JJ Reddick has done in his career. These dudes benefit from that mans hard work. These dudes do not play by the same rules.

[@JM-qn3tf]

It’s just a fact todays game is nowhere near as physical as it used to be

[@THELASTREALKING93]

So he can’t have a opinion? He did speak facts. Y’all just can’t get out of y’all feelings to see that.

[@redpillfreedom6692]

​​@@THELASTREALKING93He killed his credibility by unironically using Bronsexual Twitter lingo.

[@tashrif46]

And isn't it interesting that the idiotic role players, who have little to no importance in today's game, talks all these kind of nonsense about plumbers and firemen while the premier players like Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, etc always gives respect to the past eras?

[@Tl-mh7gq]

What respect u wanna give them. Bill won 11 championship when it only had about 12 teams. Wilt average 50 and 25 rebounds. Do that sound normal to u ? I’m pretty sure 50 years from now. Todays nba player stats won’t look over inflated

[@tashrif46]

@@Tl-mh7gq Give them the recognition and respect that the pioneers of the NBA deserve

[@THELASTREALKING93]

@@tashrif46 get out of your feelings.

[@tashrif46]

@@THELASTREALKING93 maybe you should do that first

[@MrCHITOWN247]

Talk that Talk Cousy...JJ been disrespecting that era of basketball for a while now..

[@Gnofg]

He kind of dissed Dave DeBuscherre also. Not only was Dave the best power forward of his time he was also a great outside shooter. Eve Marv Albert mentioned how great DeBuscherre would have been in modern basketball. Not only was DeBuscherre a top 50 he also played major league baseball with s a sub 3.00 ERA. JJ couldn't carry DeBuscherre's jockstrap.

[@discosecret6363]

Those players were 10x tougher than the soft boys of the 21st century. With modern training, nutrition, shoes, etc. Bob Cousy would destroy Chris Paul.

[@fleedejesus942]

Bob Cousy couldn’t even dribble with both hands lmaoo as Nick wright says he wouldn’t have been able to make a college team. Jus not enough skill. No debate

[@jeremiahsmith7706]

@@fleedejesus942 learn basketball. If Bob Cousy was born and raised in today's era he'd be even better. He'll he is better than Cp3 lmao

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

@@fleedejesus942 Why should that even be an issue? Just take what basketball (or any sport) was in the past for what it is and move on. It's just disrespectful to call past athletes from any sport "inferior", just because current athletes are more "skilled"... thanks in part to the past "trials and errors" & evolution from their predecessors. It's simply called being arrogant & ungrateful by today's current generation. Imagine 50-100 years from now when this stupid & ungrateful attitude cycle just repeats towards what is now current year... which will be tomorrow's past? Just stop.... just show respect to the predecessors, for sports wouldn't be what they are now if not for them, period. Labeling them as "Plumbers or Firemen", is just disrespectful, same way like one thinks those jobs are "cheap." When they play a vital role helping keep society functional. Though not that related to this issue... even now in the 21st century... roughly 95% of the world still practices a thing called religion, and that practice dates back to well over 10,000 years ago... no matter how some like to call it "outdated." That 95% continue such as an honor & TRADITION, bar none.

[@EJ-gx9hl]

@@mr.sinjin-smyth it’s also disrespectful to plumbers and firemen. Let’s see jj and some of todays players be firemen or plumbers or have to work an actual blue collar job in the off-season just to make ends meet

[@joejett5084]

@@jeremiahsmith7706 you’re bugged out. It’s too tough to compare eras especially anything before the magic and Larry bird era. That’s is when modern basketball actually took shape. So the only way you can compare these players is how dominant they were in their era and cp3 is more dominant than Cousy. Cousy won titles because of Russell and a super stacked squad. Cousy wasn’t Jerry west, Oscar, magic, isiah or even Stockton and that also includes cp3.

[@Ekim1740]

Bob cousy sounds like he is about to announce world war 2 with that old school mic.

[@willjamesjr]

JJ usually has some of the most insightful and respectful commentary in the game. But I was disappointed with his plumber comment. Of course we see evolved skill and athleticism today. But there are always great players in every era and there are also bums in every era too. I love the modern game. But more than anything these guys benefit immensely from scientific developments and entire systems and economies dedicated solely towards teaching and evolving the game. JJ was lucky that he was born later and got the benefit of these advanced technologies, shoes, nutrition, coaches etc. It's ridiculous to assume that if Jerry West, Baylor, Russell, Oscar and so many others had access to million dollar training, nutritionists and state of the art custom shoes that they wouldn't STILL destroy the JJs of the league today.

[@greatone275]

Yeah I echo that he really stepped into it , great comeback from cousy

[@plutoniumcore]

My reaction is, Reddick is describing Bob cousy and the OGs, like how the way pat bev describes Chris Paul.

[@chadalancarson]

BUT THEY DIDN’T! THAT is the point. You have to take them AT that time, WITH the tools and training they were given. And with that, no. They would not be able to compete in todays NBA

[@greatone275]

@@chadalancarson and yet the players of today are chasing their records 🤦‍♂️

[@kungfufemafam9216]

Where's the lie. They'd be worked by today's players. They aren't even half as fast

[@TheRealMRGG85]

I think it's quite the reverse, I think players now would have a harder time playing back then a time where they called traveling carrying and palming violations way more consistently. How much would these modern day players want to play with poor travel accommodations and poor pay.

[@Quan1992]

And being not allowed to stay in certain hotels or being yelled at and have things thrown at u or have their house broken into or threatened by the KKK. A lot.

[@fleedejesus942]

Imagine also being able to tackle another player lol to stop them. The old version of basketball makes for a good story. But overall let’s be honest the actual game sucked…….

[@Quan1992]

@@fleedejesus942 they called grant Williams yesterday for a flagrant 1 and he barely touched the guy. He fouled out and the celtics lost. This version of the game ain’t MUCH better

[@MrBmick79]

its not even the same sport anymore, what offensive players are allowed to get away with and what defensive players are NOT allowed to do anymore.

[@vernonleewarren280]

Absolute truth !

[@coreydon7097]

I love JJ Redicks commentary and analysis for the most part. He's the last guy to call players of that era fireman and plumbers cause he would qualify as todays era of a fireman or plumber. Dude averaged 12 PTS, 2 ASSISTS AND 2 REB in his career, man stop it

[@wakeupchurch]

You gonna copy and paste this everywhere huh…

[@JNobles88]

@@wakeupchurch lol

[@holidayarmadillo8653]

@@wakeupchurch LMAO

[@teainafamily5224]

Preach

[@kjo2130]

JJ would average 30 ppg in the 50s lol

[@Teffy2105]

I agree with mad dog and Bob Cousy on this one. JJ was losing the argument and decided to take the weakest argument and low blow that he could come up with. I expected more coming from JJ then to say something that the casual fan would say.

[@HomerunsamSOSA]

I mean he's not wrong. The level of competition was nothing to this. And again he didn't play or guard the best players in the league.

[@madlabsinfirmary1904]

@@HomerunsamSOSA "I mean he's not wrong. The level of competition was nothing to this. And again he didn't play or guard the best players in the league." Ironically JJ is the "plumber and fireman" of his time. Professional basketball wasn't lucrative as it is now. To say that guys then were unskilled then is just ignorant to say. It's like saying runners aren't skilled then as they are now. Those guys accomplished a lot in worse conditions while guys today get paid more to be less successful with better conditions.

[@Gnofg]

@@HomerunsamSOSA He kind of dissed Dave DeBuscherre also. Not only was Dave the best power forward of his time he was also a great outside shooter. Eve Marv Albert mentioned how great DeBuscherre would have been in modern basketball. Not only was DeBuscherre a top 50 he also played major league baseball with s a sub 3.00 ERA. JJ couldn't carry DeBuscherre's jockstrap.

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

@@HomerunsamSOSA Why should that even be an issue? Just take what basketball (or any sport) was in the past for what it is and move on. It's just disrespectful to call past athletes from any sport "inferior", just because current athletes are more "skilled"... thanks in part to the past "trials and errors" & evolution from their predecessors. It's simply called being arrogant & ungrateful by today's current generation. Imagine 50-100 years from now when this stupid & ungrateful attitude cycle just repeats towards what is now current year... which will be tomorrow's past? Just stop.... just show respect to the predecessors, for sports wouldn't be what they are now if not for them, period. Labeling them as "Plumbers or Firemen", is just disrespectful, same way like one thinks those jobs are "cheap." When they play a vital role helping keep society functional. Though not that related to this issue... even now in the 21st century... roughly 95% of the world still practices a thing called religion, and that practice dates back to well over 10,000 years ago... no matter how some like to call it "outdated." That 95% continue such as an honor & TRADITION, bar none.

[@tommyg421]

@@madlabsinfirmary1904 and if jj was a plumber he’d be the best shooter in the 50-60’s with the only fg percentage close to him being Oscar Robinson, who isn’t as good as a shooter, he also shot .900 from the line, who did that? Jj was saying that the people (role players) that had second jobs during the 1950’s weren’t as good as modern role players. And you’d be dumb to disagree with that viewpoint honestly.

[@patrickpitamber]

Wilt chamberlain would dominate every area unstoppable

[@peterjacoby8019]

but wasn't Mad Dog's argument that bob cousey WITHOUT modern nutrition and benefits was better than cp3? if thats his argument then its fair for JJ to say, they were plumbers and firemen, or point out that bob Cousy couldn't dribble with his left hand

[@Rickypaleo1776]

Dude won championships and was an instrumental part of doing so. Cousy is part of Celtic lure for a reason. He is better just for the mere fact that he didn’t buckle in the playoffs like cp3. The skills he had for the day were good enough to beat the skills of the day. He’s Better, End of story.

[@jaydell4039]

@@Rickypaleo1776 buckle like Cp3. Bruh cut it out. Cousy had bill russell and like 4 other hall of famers on his team and they barely had any teams to play against. Cp3 would destroy bob cousy foh

[@Rickypaleo1776]

@@jaydell4039 how many teams CP Cry baby been on? What’s he got the big donut 🍩 you play the team you face less watered down talent. He never won one and he never will, but I guess thats everybody else’s fault. Let’s blame the lack of talent that’s he’s had for him not showing up in the playoffs ever. yeah they made me do it mommy it’s all their fault. The argument is over you lost acceptance is key to start the healing process.

[@jtremaine23]

They were actually firemen and plumbers because they didn’t make much playing basketball so they had to get real jobs too. JJ didn’t think about that though.

[@Michael-tc1dm]

@@jaydell4039 cousy was better amongst his peers in that era than Chris was in this era. Chris is a playoff disappointment every year.

[@amostlyreasonableguy]

JJ Reddick is a plumber compared to Bob Cousy.

[@tjleaf3510]

Not really JJ is an all time great shooter

[@rafa7622]

Nah. Jj was more versatile than a one handed cousey

[@BaithNa]

@Beery Cousy couldn't make a high school team today.

[@lg3385]

@@tjleaf3510 let's not throw "great" around like that

[@kaioken301]

I like JJ. But truth be told, he was more of a "plumber" than any of the HOF back then. No athleticism, no defense, little to no handle, and could only make the most textbook passes. All he had was a fundamentally sound, pure jumpshot and a better haircut than the dude's back then.

[@mlking213]

JJ is better than most of the guys from the 1950s. He’s also much bigger than most of them too. The athletes were not playing basketball back then.

[@kaioken301]

@@mlking213 Better at what? All most of the guards back then did was shoot, and that's all JJ did too. He just had the benefit of the 3 point line. And "much bigger"? Idk about that. JJ was a 6'3 shooting guard, as was Jerry West. While JJ did weigh 200 during his playing days and West weighed 175, they covered that in this video. Technology, diet planning, etc was nowhere near as advanced as it is now compared to back then. If players back then were born in this era, they'd have the frames today's players have. And this "bigger, faster, stronger" narrative needs to be put to bed ASAP. We're in the small ball era. The NBA's average player height in 2022 is 6'6. In 1952, when Cousy entered the league, the average was 6'4. A two inch difference in height is "much bigger"? Not at all. The average weight is 214. In 1952 it was 194. A 20 pound difference. For reference: Steph Curry is 6'2, 185 and Bob Cousy was 6'1, 175.

[@quincyatt]

That audio sounded like it was recorded in 1950 …. My God !

[@LouieTzepher]

Bob is a 6X champ vs JJ 0 rings Bob is a league mvp vs JJ nada Bob is a 2x all star mvp vs JJ 0 Bob is a 8x steals leader vs JJ 0 Bob is a 10x nba first team vs JJ 0 Bob is a 13X All star vs JJ 0 I can keep going but you get the point, Bob made the best of what he had in his generation and came out on top, JJ had a foundation, science, nutrition and all the perks and has no accolades, just an forgettable career. It’s great he can shoot, but he’s not even a top 10 shooter, zero accolades, individually or team wise.

[@elidavis1670]

I asked my gramps who his goat was and he said, “Bob Cousey sure was good.” And get this, he saw quality players in his time. Season ticket holder for LSU basketball since the 60’s. Man saw pistol Pete (the best ncaa player ever) and shaq with his own eyes. He never saw Cousy play in person. For a man who only watched basketball in a state of football (Louisiana), he sure saw some good plumbers.

[@Obiamajoyisrmd]

I was watching bob cousy highlights. I watched him hit a running left-handed sky hook shot from about 16 feet. Umm…yea - he’s right handed. Cousy was the real damn deal. He reminds me of Nash + white chocolate, before they were even born.

[@Madvillainy48]

Bob Cousy is a pioneer and he was great in his era, but respectfully, damn near nobody in the 50s is making a D1 college roster today.

[@Gnofg]

@@Madvillainy48 You can only measure someone in their era. They called palming immediately if you put your hand on the side of the ball. Go to the schoolyard and try dribbling with your hand only on top of the ball. It sure changes what you can do with your first step.

[@antimeta2472]

Pay all these guy's a 1950's salary make them were Walmart shoes and let's see how much they really love the game.

[@robertrios1732]

Lets stop this b.s in disrespecting the players back then. They made yall millionaires. They wasn't trash if they had the technology now back then - jj wouldn't be in the nba.

[@Cougar139tweak]

Best part of all this for me, It's got me watching old clips of games way before my timel

[@Backhand77]

JJ taking shots at the working class. Real class act

[@admusic247]

You guys are so sensitive. He’s not taking a shot at the working class. He’s saying you can’t compare guys who train all year round to people who took half the year off to work. That’s not knocking the working class, it’s actually acknowledging it’s hard to balance two jobs. Stop being a liberal baby.

[@Backhand77]

@Beery exactly. When they're not on Twitter they're clubbing People today act like players from back in the day didn't come to play. Which is completely wrong NBA didn't have Ben Simmons psychological problems back in the day. To bad all these modern training techniques and nutrition didn't do anything for poor old Ben. Today's players are just ****y's

[@admusic247]

@Beery that’s not the point. The point is the players have the ability and mental space to focus on their craft all year. Not that they do. But that’s the world they live in. The fact is they can. Back then it wasn’t an option. It’s just factual bro. You arguing w reality. It’s not a knock on them. I’m sure if they got paid properly and had access they’d be just as good as the guys today. But they didn’t. Talent also stacks on itself. We learn from our fathers. And ideally our fathers want us to do better than them. It’s really not that heavy bro. You just being a little liberal baby.

[@JonathanRodriguez-hw3iy]

@@admusic247 but if we go by logically and common sense these players today still complain and are injuring prone and missing game like load management with all that access how in the hell would they survive back than it will be difficult for them to adapt. because they are not use to like they are now sorry kid but todays basketball is trash despite its advancements in training

[@charlesljones2454]

@@admusic247 does everybody who disagrees with you have to be a liberal . The skill level today is vastly different ......yesterday's players were slower ..... Not as athletic not as skilled ......and many small players wouldn't even try to go downhill on a good shot blocker ......today most guards can contort their bodies and improvise in mid air to avoid blocks and shoot over much taller opponents .....so the answer is yes ....today's players are far more talented and skilled ......but yesterday's players . ....and their greatness should still be recognized ......and respected .

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Look at Jordan. Since Wilt straightened him out in 1997 after they got into a heated argument for that 50th, MJ never disrespected players from the past. He's always been respectful to Jerry West. Saw him hug Jerry this year.

[@bboiblack1948]

jordan in the 50's would kill teams...lets be honest

[@tchallal6684]

Wilt never needed to straightened jordan out because he never disrespected the players before him. I don’t know where you got that from.

[@muhammedking3963]

In what world u live in that's a lie

[@muhammedking3963]

That never happened

[@lamar1990lg]

Jordan never disrespect Wilt or players of the past players of the past was hating on Jordan matter of fact Wilt been hating since Kareem came in the league as a rookie we can celebrate you but don't tell us to only recognize you as the greatest

[@mrfabulous17]

Then why do you all makes the statement that todays players couldn’t play in the NBAs of the 80s-90s

[@trvspvrk]

Exactly old heads diss the new school all the time but once they get a taste of their own medicine they get all offended lmfao

[@mfjosh6422]

@@trvspvrk yip, funny cause it’s not like they were even watching Cousy, wilt, Jerry so how exactly would they know. And the argument of “ohh let’s give them the same benefits of todays players” well now you’ve changed the argument completely

[@Gnofg]

@@mfjosh6422 I saw them all including Cousy. I started watching in 1965 and have not missed a final since then. One thing today's players would struggle with is palming and traveling. the second your hand went to the side of the ball palming was called. They were very strict about that. Go to the schoolyard and try dribbling only using the top of the ball. It sure changes your first step .I saw Giannis take 5 steps the other day. FIVE. One can only measure how someone did against their competition. JJ kind of dissed Dave DeBuscherre. Not only was Dave the best power forward of his time he was also a terrific outside shooter. Better yet he played major league baseball with a sub 3.00 ERA. JJ couldn't carry his jockstrap.

[@Keepdapocket]

@@trvspvrk I’m an old head (58). I say this all the time when I debate with other old heads. We need to stop. We had our day. I ran 10.4 in high school for the 100m. I was considered, by the country, absolutely top notch. I came in second at nationals running 10.37. The guy who beat me ran 10.31. Both of those times in todays world would probably get us 6th place or worse. Basketball, my teammate, who would up playing 14 years in the NBA, was 6’5” and considered quick as hell for his size. Now days, dudes are 6’9” regularly that move like guards and jump out of the gym. A good point guard in my days was 6’0 to 6’2”, and they could barely dunk. Now days point guards are 6’3” with 42 vertical leaps. The athleticism of today’s players is crazy! Did we play tougher back in our day? Sure!!!! But, to say these players today couldn’t adapt to the aggressive play of yesteryear is insane. A true athlete can adapt to any style of play sin any sport. Period!!!!

[@301gobluehailmich1]

Todays players are soft overpayed prima donnas

[@patrickpitamber]

Exactly cousy would be awesome today he averaged 18.5 11 assistes and 6 rebounds per game he was great

[@freetheworld2671]

Back then they played like turd of course he dominated

[@RandomCitizen014]

Two things are true, Bob Cousy is one of the greatest is of his era, but it’s also true he couldn’t play today. The training is better, the development is better, the nutrition, the schemes. Because of greats like Cousy the game is how it is now, but they’re not comparable to the guys now. If we give them the advantages of today’s players there’s no doubt they would be amazing, but as it was and how we saw him there’s no comparison.

[@terrelvivi1043]

Exactly, well said. JJ saying what he said doesn’t diminish what past players have done.

[@RandomCitizen014]

@Chase AReal1 that’s part of the point though, if you take an average player (like JJ) with the skills and bigger bodies of today they would be a star in the 50’s. JJ was on the money with what he said, from the 80’s on is where competition really picked up, but that doesn’t diminish what players before that did.

[@Smirkne]

JJ doesn't respect those who got him where he is. Unbelievable disrespect from a spoiled brat.

[@truthiscensored]

If the modern NBA paid players $25,000 to 40,000 per year, their would be many plumbers and janitors in today's NBA also... But thankfully they paved the way so you (modern players) can make $40 million per year The NBA D League paid player $30k per year in like 2009...and guess what players did in the offseason...worked 2nd jobs

[@Quan1992]

CFL players today work second jobs. And even some nfl players who are on practice squads.

[@RampageYI]

Them old highlights are very high in skill, they doing high level crossovers, passes, and lay up that in today’s bag would be on top highlights of the day.

[@patrickholub9698]

That’s what happens when you allow emotion to get into your analysis. Sure mad dog does have the “get off my lawn” mentality but JJ fell for it and made a general assumption. Liked the way Cousy handled it, defended the “firemen and plumbers” instead of himself.

[@ZiggyMercury]

One of the things that people also don't realize is how basketball rules have dramatically changed over the years. Take dribbling for instance: if you look at the way players dribbled in the '50s and '60s, it seems pretty weird and you might think their skills were not as good as players' skills nowadays. Well... If you realized that if players from today went into a time machine and landed on the basketball court of the 1950s, they'd have been constantly called for carrying violation, you'd realize why players back then dribbled the way they did.

[@christopherkettler8727]

And they didn't have the same inspirational players to learn from I feel in love with bball because of magic..cousy was ahead of his time and he never saw the stuff he did

[@doctorbruno693]

JJ Reddick is very good on TV but Bob Cousy just schooled him and roasted him real good 👏🏾👍🏾💯

[@tjleaf3510]

No he didn’t. Cousy mentioned two players that didn’t even guard him. They literally played plumbers and firemen back then 💀

[@sageyondima]

@@tjleaf3510 listen to the full interview, he names like 10-20 guys

[@dwilliams380]

@@sageyondima So the NBA consisted of 10-20 guys?

[@doctorbruno693]

@@tjleaf3510 keep in mind they were not full time professionals and yes had other jobs like baseball players and football 🏈 players at the time.

[@dwilliams380]

JJ was referring to the general level of competition and how they were not focused on training for basketball all year around.

[@culturehub2628]

I wanna see reddicks response LOL! Much respect to cousey but tbh I didn’t think he was still alive tbh glad to hear from him from a guy who loves modern basketball!

[@NeoLegendX]

We stand on the shoulders of our forefathers. Just because you fly now while your forefather was riding a caravan only means he did his part in the grand scheme of things to get you where you are today.

[@JoseSantos-zj3ll]

So many people think and act like the world started when they were born.

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Kareem isn't winning 5 more rings without Magic. And Magic still led the Lakers to the Finals in 1991 without Kareem. Millennials never really caught Magic like they did for Michael. So Magic gets ignored in these GOAT debates.

[@anthonyanderson9303]

Magic is literally in everyone's top 5 so I don't know about ignored. Also, he needed Kareem too. He also needed James Worthy and Jamal Wilkes and Norm Nixon and Byron Scott.

[@Noin007]

I think that may be part of it, but I think the way Magic openly and often declares Mike to be better than he and Bird probably cripples his case in the eyes of the masses.

[@lejfieg1732]

The fact that they discard some of the older records because of how high the scores were and how *small* the players were is ridiculous. Pace was crazy in the 60s-70s and WITHOUT the 3 point shot, the average height for players hasn't changed that much (check for yourself) and not to mention, they actually called carries and travels.

[@brandonortiz6523]

You definitely can’t discredit the guys from the original top 50, I could only imagine people like bill russel or wilt playing big in todays era 👀 I’m 28 and recognize how great the guys before were and it’s like you guys brought up give them the same up bringing like todays and boy that would be something to watch

[@Gnofg]

He kind of dissed Dave DeBuscherre also. Not only was Dave the best power forward of his time he was also a great outside shooter. Eve Marv Albert mentioned how great DeBuscherre would have been in modern basketball. Not only was DeBuscherre a top 50 he also played major league baseball with s a sub 3.00 ERA. JJ couldn't carry DeBuscherre's jockstrap.

[@stevefowler2112]

I was in Dulles Airport in D.C. (technically in northern Va.) in the late 80's, a number of years after John Havlicek stopped playing and I saw a tall guy walking towards me with a buzz from those around him as he walked by. Being a Celtic fan (from Cocoa Beach Florida) as a kid I recognized who it was. I had never seen John in person and as he walked by, the thing that jumped out was how wide his shoulders were...they were like alien wide. Having seen JJ up close in social circles in Orlando when I lived there when we both frequented some of the upscale downtown Orlando bars, I can tell you JJ would have wanted nothing to do with being on the court at the same time as John Havlicek.

[@RichJarvis]

The recency bias of this new generation kills me. “Superstars from any era would be stars in any era” Well said

[@ExclusivePokeLife]

it’s crazy to me how uninformed/uneducated most of these new nba players/fans really are. the rules of those days did not allow for players to carry the ball or just straight walk holding it or do several of these violations committed today. thats why when u watch the footage it looks weird because they can only dribble a certain way & like chris said look at the passes guys were making back then because they actually knew how to play basketball and not worry about being athletic with zero skills like most nba players now. luka & jokic are the perfect example of when the narrative was that larry bird or magic couldn’t play in today game but look at how un athletic those guys are one is a two time back to back MVP and the other one is in the western conference finals. jj redick like many others are players who used very little brain cells when playing and these statements show it.

[@hardwoodthought1213]

You know JJ was just being hyperbolic tho? All of the comments on this video are acting like it was t a reactionary take. How often are current players unprovoked saying this? Rarely, how often are old heads saying Giannis wouldn’t even make the league in the 80s? ALL THE TIME I believe every great player would have dominated any era had they had the current technology, rules, training and incentives. Shame old heads rarely agree tho

[@Gnofg]

The carry is the big one. I saw Giannis take 5 steps the other day. 5 steps and no call.

[@darnarxz]

most of the nba nowadays have 0 skills? That's an unbelievably dumb statement.

[@aa-qx1cg]

@@darnarxz they carry and travel all the time. modern NBA is more like WWF than a real sport.

[@at2130]

Nobody is a student of the game anymore. They watch KZbin and try to compare eras.

[@Ninerfan4life]

I like JJ Reddick, but he was way out of bounds with that take! Those players in the 50’s and 60’s were not afforded all the luxuries of modern players

[@onidtubes]

​@Matthew Molt He just mentioned they weren't afforded all the luxuries, that includes advancement in nutrition, training, shoes technology etc.. all of which contributes to players performance in todays game. But being athletic doesn't make you better. Is Luka considered athletic? Jokic? Draymond?

[@mfjosh6422]

@@onidtubes no, but having better shoes and travel arrangements wouldn’t make them superstars in this era either

[@onidtubes]

@@mfjosh6422 who said they have to be superstars? lol Chris broussard said it best " Superstars of any era will be AT LEAST stars of any era "

[@mfjosh6422]

@@onidtubes and even that I’m now starting to question, you telling me that shaq, lebron, Kobe, Duncan, KD, wade, garnet wouldn’t have been superstars in the 80-90’s I’m not buying that from Chris

[@jasondaterrah7124]

Guys like Redick and this "skinny jeanification" era couldn't cut it as "plumbers and firemen" 🤣

[@D-AVGGamer]

You must be so proud making up that word, huh lol

[@Nandoswitharando]

Because those are such illustrious jobs🤣

[@C-Note-to6vk]

So what. They are thankful they dont have to

[@Ekim1740]

@@Nandoswitharando no college debt but earning decent money.

[@D-AVGGamer]

@@Nandoswitharando LOL guy, do ur research. Plumbers easily make $55-75k even in the cheapest of states. I'm possible you would lick boots to make half that right now.

[@janinecarlos1718]

The reverse argument could also be made. Take some of the “best” players from today and put them in the past with the same issues they had then and would they be as good. I think you guys are absolutely right, the players from the past would still be stars today with the environment nba stars have.

[@369pendulum]

But that theoretical proposition has nothing to do with the fact that today's players are far better than the players from the 50s 60s & 70s. Players of today dedicate their lives to the sport as opposed to the players who played in the infancy stages of the league.

[@OrondeBranch]

No they would NOT….evolution of sport would be against them. Imagine Who in the hell would guard these guys now? And who would they score on. Isiah Thomas is one of my all time favorites (I’m a little Detroit biased) but could he really guard Kyrie or Trae….or Ja? Come onnnnn lol

[@redpillfreedom6692]

@@369pendulum But players today wouldn't be able to dedicate their lives to the game back then because they wouldn't have gotten paid as much. They'd have to do another job in the offseason. Plus they'd have far more restrictions back then, particularly when it comes to dribbling. Even with those restrictions, Cousy was making passes that only Magic Johnson has been able to make. Today's players can't make those passes even with all dribbling restrictions removed.

[@369pendulum]

@@redpillfreedom6692 "Players today wouldn't be able to dedicate their lives to the game back then"... Okay that is the point!!! Players dedicate their lives to the game and that is one the reasons they are much better players. Why do guys make these conversations so difficult? The players of today are far more advanced, period. No need for hypotheticals & caveats. You bringing up dribbling restrictions is irrelevant, I've watched the old guys play & not being able to carry had nothing to do with why they couldn't dribble with both hands.

[@redpillfreedom6692]

@@369pendulum Actually it had plenty to do with their lack of dribbling with their off hand. If you knew a damn thing about NBA history, you'd know that.

[@BBoyHannibal]

This is for the last caller. There’s guys we haven’t seen because of street life. So you don’t really have a point. You have to give every generations best their due. Rob and Chris are right but I wish they’d talk about how good athletes have it today vs in the past. The surfaces they play one are engineered exclusively for their purpose. So are the the sneakers. The trainer and facilities. Look at track and field - Jesse Owens and other ran on dirt often with rocks and pebbles not removed from very poor inspections done runners today have running lanes the are made with spring for faster times and let’s not even mention the foot gear that’s been invented. Case close have some respect.

[@philthornton1382]

Exactly this 👌🏼

[@themarkl0813]

QUICK QUESTION: who was better, magic as a passer or curry as a shooter. Both revolutionized each skill respectively.

[@tjleaf3510]

Obviously Curry. Curry in his worst shooting year is better than Jordan in his best shooting year

[@truthiscensored]

Magic because he never had a off night getting assists...plus he could still get you 25-30 points... Curry have many bad nights shooting and only average 5-7 assists

[@Geeandrezzi]

@@tjleaf3510 lmfaooo you GOTTA be trollin

[@fatesgates8393]

Right. 90% of players today can probably shoot the 3 better than Magic. But we still haven't seen a player as good as Magic at the PG position.

[@jonathang8996]

@@tjleaf3510 if you're strictly talking about 3 point shooting then you might be correct but if you're talking about overall shooting, including free throw and mid-range shooting you are wrong.

[@Truthstter]

Those first 2 callers funny asf😂😂

[@peterstark4562]

This is a simple take. If kyrie irving, steph curry, Lebron, KD, etc. were born in the 1930s, they would be different players. We are a product of our environment.

[@kevinallen6845]

Thank you 💯

[@jamespuso1627]

See, thing I think a lot of people don't get is in the 60s and 70s the game was actually played at a much FASTER pace than it is today. I haven't seen too much Cousy but Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were two of the most freak athletes you'll see on film. Go look of clips of Wilt Chamberlain and 7"1 running the floor, and check his hops and wing span going up for blocks. Never seen anything like that, they couldn't guard him in any era. Bill Russel took off from the free throw line and made a lay up in a game. Only time I saw a center take off from the free throw line was Dwight Howard and that wasn't in a game.

[@Ham_1982]

the league today is more skilled but within every era there are great professional players competing so JJ Reddick is not accurate

[@tjleaf3510]

JJ never said they didn’t have great players so your analysis is not accurate

[@admusic247]

Actually jj was accurate. Back the a lot of guys had second jobs period.

[@DeCurtaRican]

It’s more TALENTED, not more skilled. Guys are born bigger, faster, quicker, and stronger, and they have access to better training, equipment, nutrition, and technology - including shoes.

[@bstowe3000]

@@DeCurtaRican yet they need load management

[@mike.cdn7212]

At the same time I would like to see how modern players can still have their averages and percentages with the way these older players dribbled the ball.

[@MIDTOWNE1]

Bob Cousy was the best fireman/plumber to ever play the game yesterday and today.

[@jesuscarrillo7952]

The point that gets missed a lot is that the early NBA laid the groundwork and foundation for the evolution of the game and players. Players of today wouldn’t have their same skills if they were dropped in the 50s having no prior experience of seeing Jordan, Magic, Dr J, or Bird play (decades of basketball greatness). SEEING the greats helped them find their game. JJ is outta pocket

[@Riles3152]

Good for Bob Cousy. I’m tired of these disrespectful punks like JJ Redick getting on these programs like they’re the smartest guy in the room, and disrespecting the old pioneers that paved the way for fantastic role players like him.

[@seanflaherty1225]

Now let's see people respect players even older than Bob Cousy like George Mikan, Paul Arizin, and Joe Fulks.

[@GH-oi2jf]

I’ve never heard of Redick, but I’ve heard of Cousy. Even the Warriors don’t have the fast break of Cousy’s Celtics. That was the greatest NBA team ever.

[@danielhuynh9368]

JJ is correct in a way. Times are truly different now obviously from back then. Players are now paid for these to be full-time jobs, and players today live and breathe their sports 24/7. Most of all the nutrition, diets, and medicine are far more superior. Even in comparison to athletes from the 80's and 90's we are significantly better at all these things I've just mentioned. The consequence is that we're now seeing athletes like Tom Brady who is on the border of mid-life, still playing at an elite level. Tom Brady is not a ways off from 50 folks. It's just that we're living in a completely different world than the 50's now. It's nearly apples to oranges. What is missing though from JJ's perspective is that he's forgetting the significance of those athletes from back then. Without people like Cousy, the NBA isn't the international entertainment conglomerate it is today.

[@danielhuynh9368]

@Beery You will always have lazy players. My point is, players have better access to those things now and know more. Some take advantage of it. Some don't. It still doesn't disrupt that most players are physically better today.

[@Coldskin1]

kids talking about 60s players are fire fighters and plumbers. while modren nba players literally living in luxaury, they will struggle to just live in the 60s let alone play a single game. and a lot of these players won't know how to workout without modern equipment or a personal trainer.

[@dwilliams380]

Cousy named 6 people. Come on guys. JJ was referring to the general level of competition and how they were not focused on training for basketball all year around.

[@robertoenriquez3659]

But like Broussard said, give them ALL the tools todays players get and those old guys would be just as good. I use to 100% use JJ's argument about guys from other eras not being as good, but Broussard makes you think about it in another way and now I kinda agree.

[@dwilliams380]

@@robertoenriquez3659 We can’t argue hypotheticals. These same broadcasters like to say todays players couldn’t handle the physical nature of the league before the mid 2000s. So I’m not letting them off the hook with things going the other way. What JJ said was factual. What Broussard said was speculative and likely true. It’s possible they would have been better, but they weren’t and we can’t go back and give them appropriate training. This is all proving the point. The fact that we have to say “well maybe if they ate right and trained correctly” means they aren’t as good as todays players.

[@robertoenriquez3659]

@@dwilliams380 Well maybe they would have ate and trained right if the knowledge was there. We always didn't know cigarettes gave you cancer and soda gave you diabetes. They're also wrong when they talk about the physicality comparison. It the rules were still the same todays NBA players would have adapted and still been great. Kevin Durant would probably have an extra 20lbs of muscle mass but he doesn't have to. Looks like I'm the only one whos being consistent now lol

[@dwilliams380]

@@robertoenriquez3659 I’m not saying either is right or wrong. I’m saying we can’t argue hypotheticals. They’re talking about adapting to knowledge and situations but don’t give that credit when discussing the defense of old. I’m not saying how todays players would play in the 80s. I’m not saying how the 50s-70s players would perform with different nutrition and training. I’m saying, based on what we see, the competition was weaker in the 50s-60s on a player-by-player basis.

[@robertoenriquez3659]

@@dwilliams380 And thats where I agree with you. There's more talented players now.

[@2cooks]

The problem is people can't accept both point of views are right , some of the 1950s players were firemen and plumbers but they also deserve our respect for laying the foundation of what the NBA is today

[@DJReesePgh]

So all of the old school players and analysts and players can say what ever they want about todays players. But when the one had dribbling two hand push shot era gets criticized then it’s world world 3. Stooooooppppp Iiiiitttttttt Rob Parker Voice with the hypocrisy.

[@anirbanazad558]

They should be able to. The current players are enjoying the labours if the previous.

[@eduardonarvaez2086]

Everyone can say whatever they want, and every claim can be contested, what is your problem, you ok with jj point fine, but we can disagre with him and that is ok too, but for everyone that says today playera are better, ITS CAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE COMODITIES, clowns

[@piccolo5346]

Steph would average 40 in that era.

[@mobccr]

@@piccolo5346 Steph has the advantage of learning from the previous generations of nba players

[@dabu8701]

I know right. How many time do the old timers say these players today are soft

[@Malaki727]

Today's era bull Russell bench guy at best

[@donsnow8039]

Arguing who is better from different era's isn't productive. The game as a whole is way too different it's damn near another sport. All we can really do is look at how good guys are/were relative to their competition

[@fleedejesus942]

Facts

[@MTXSHO9732vV8SHO]

JJ Redick DOES NOT WANT to guard Tiny, Calvin Murphy, World B, the Pearl and Clyde on back to back nights but in the 70s he would've had to with no F'ing 3 point line in sight THROUGHOUT THE 70s

[@1JamesHunter]

Could you imagine Michael Jordan being able to carry his dribble?? Or, you couldn't hand check him?? Oh mylanta!

[@niweshlekhak9646]

they will just do what they do to Luka, let him have the ball and target him on defense.

[@johndarius18]

​@@niweshlekhak9646 Jordan didn't play any defense? is that what you're implying?

[@niweshlekhak9646]

@@johndarius18 nah just target him on defense and wear him out.

[@johndarius18]

@@niweshlekhak9646 I see. They'd stop doing it because they wouldn't score. They only continue against Luka because it works. If you look at Luka, he has a double chin. He's not in top NBA shape, and he doesn't play defense most of the time.

[@niweshlekhak9646]

@@johndarius18 if you make MJ chase around Curry he will tire out.

[@ericlind6581]

guards today playing in Cousy’s era would be called for palming every time.

[@louischapman87317]

Glad to see Chris drinking a glass of water instead that Pepsi 👍🏾

[@rafa7622]

What's wrong with an occasional Pepsi? Let the man live.

[@primeminister66]

Man I thought that was Sweet tea! Pepsi is the business tho

[@jasdhamrat7235]

Broussard the goat man. He’s the voice of the league

[@Oridginale24]

The problem with Cousy’s point is that his best years were in the 50’s and he retired in 1963. All those players he mentioned were at their best during the 60s so he didn’t play against them that much because most of Cousy’s career was in the 50’s. In the 50’s, the league wasn’t fully integrated yet.

[@niweshlekhak9646]

In the 1950s people got payed handsomely for doing labor because of rebuilding needed to be done of Europe post WW2, so most of the athletic people of US went to Europe for 4-5 years earned good money and came back.

[@carloscardoso8104]

No it’s not because Reddick said everyone before 1980.

[@bigpoppa3999]

JJ Reddick is absolutely right on this one. Just look at the tape. The footage is there. We ain't talking about the stars. We talking about the average NBA player. Back then they were nowhere near as good as a the average NBA player from today.

[@jonsnipe5484]

If that's the case then JJ is a plumber 🤣🤣

[@gersonfernandes4862]

@@jonsnipe5484 Nope

[@patrickperdue3051]

Exactly

[@tcg5427]

Alot of players now wouldnt be able to do what they did back then. the advancement in technology n medicine has helped them. Plus they cant be touched...back then they did what they did against physical defenses

[@jonsnipe5484]

@@gersonfernandes4862 yea... His career was nothing

[@timsmith1033]

By far the best and most intelligent sports show around. I agree with their views on this topic.

[@carlingram8316]

I think a simple experiment to give the current players, and fans, a small taste of what the early players dealt with would be very interesting and enlightening to these types of debates. Here it is: Next season, have every NBA player wear the old school Chuck Taylor sneakers in every game they play. An extra layer to that would be to enforce the rules like the 1960s. Those two changes alone would show a great deal about why players are more skilled and athletic now.

[@mjwbulich]

Stupid and pointless. There is only one metric that matters across all eras. Did you win. It's the same today as it was 75 years ago. Were you at your best when it mattered the most.

[@davidcici11Evolution]

If you give those players in the past better shoes and the rulebook from today they still would be rec team they lack explosiveness and athleticism and they still wouldn't have the skills as modern day players have. They aren't going to develop any of those overnight and people need to stop thinking that. Any player from this Era would adapt to everything you just say. Hoppers hoop in any condition. These players grew up on the playground doesn't mean they are more pampered with money etc let that fool you.

[@jonathanglover6831]

​@@davidcici11Evolution it's called evolution... with no point of reference players today wouldn't be as good period

[@davidcici11Evolution]

@@jonathanglover6831 yes but the fact remains that they are that good. Comparing a strong Era to a weak Era creates weak arguments and parallels we can admit now looking back in retrospect that that Era can't be compared to anything 80's or above. JJ wasn't wrong in saying that, that is a fact.

[@carlingram8316]

@@davidcici11Evolution of course the current players would adapt. Why do you not think the players from before would adapt with a decades worth of top flight coaching and training? Most of these NBA players now have been playing in AAU leagues since before they were teenagers. Look at all the training information and technology available to them. Do you honestly not think that the players from the older eras wouldn't have similar abilities with those resources?

[@RayMillz116]

JJ Reddit got taken to school on this 1. “Keep the greats name OUT YA MOUTH 👋🏾 “

[@benjamin5726]

Bob Cousy stuffed JJ in a locker! The whole old players cant play in this era debate is so lazy. If that was the case why isnt every world record from the last decade? You still have olympic records from the 60s

[@pv25]

You’re missing the point. JJ said Cousey was not a better player than CP3 and faced comparatively inferior competition. Look at Cousey’s game and stats and come back and say how he could play in today’s NBA. He was great in his era, but he was NOWHERE near the player CP3 is and played against worse competition.

[@benjamin5726]

@@pv25 I agree with that but thats not what he said!

[@pv25]

@@benjamin5726 It’s EXACTLY what he said. Watch the clip between him and Russo. He was not saying Cousey was a scrub or a bad player, he said compared to CP3 he was not a good player because Russo said Cousey was a better player. That’s just factual.

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

@@pv25 Why should that even be an issue? Just take what basketball (or any sport) was in the past for what it is and move on. It's just disrespectful to call past athletes from any sport "inferior", just because current athletes are more "skilled"... thanks in part to the past "trials and errors" & evolution from their predecessors. It's simply called being arrogant & ungrateful by today's current generation. Imagine 50-100 years from now when this stupid & ungrateful attitude cycle just repeats towards what is now current year... which will be tomorrow's past? Just stop.... just show respect to the predecessors, for sports wouldn't be what they are now if not for them, period. Labeling them as "Plumbers or Firemen", is just disrespectful, same way like one thinks those jobs are "cheap." When they play a vital role helping keep society functional. Though not that related to this issue... even now in the 21st century... roughly 95% of the world still practices a thing called religion, and that practice dates back to well over 10,000 years ago... no matter how some like to call it "outdated." That 95% continue such as an honor & TRADITION, bar none.

[@pv25]

@@mr.sinjin-smyth Did you read my comment? JJ’s comments were in RESPONSE to another person trying to elevate a past era’s player over a current one’s. Why is it okay to praise the past while criticizing the present, but not the other way around? The fact is that, yes, the past is the past and we should be respectful of players and people in the past. However, that doesn’t mean you throw objectivity out the window. The worst you can say is that JJ was too harsh with what he said, but remove that for a moment and ask: was he actually wrong? If you listen to the context of when he said that, you would see how you’re missing the entire point of his comments. And religion is a poor example. Religion has thousands of years of history and is ingrained in the way people life and view life. It feels inappropriate and incongruent to compare those two. But if you must compare them, consider the fact that religion was a way for people with no scientific capability to make sense of the world around them and comfortably explain what happens after death. Nowadays with the advancement of science we can confidently debunk most religious beliefs. Does that mean people in the past were unintelligent or foolish? Not in their era, but by today’s standards they would be horribly uneducated and unfamiliar with the world around them and how it actually works. You can respect the past AND criticize it. Endlessly praising the past without acknowledging the flaws is ignorant and childish. Take the criticism for what it is, evaluate it, and decide if it’s accurate or not.

[@StunnersSquadEnt]

11:50 Stop 🛑 it Jebroni 😂

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Paul Pierce said it best. Why can't players from the past move forward? Why can't they improve from today's more advanced training and nutrition? Steve Rogers didn't seem to be stuck in the 1940s. His fighting skills evolved.

[@joshuablack8221]

That first called was an obvious dummy 😂😂😂😂 Just Say No, Brotha

[@necoharvey9736]

I’m sorry but I disagree with the every player that’s a star of an era would be a star in any era . That exactly the same but that’s like saying every draft pick that is taken in the top 5 will guaranteed be superstars . Sometimes it just doesn’t work like that once you elevate the competition . Now I agree some players definitely would but I don’t know that someone like bob Cousy would be great as Chris Paul or John Stockton just because he’d have todays access, cause now every nba player has the availabilities Chris Paul has but aren’t nearly as good as him

[@Gnofg]

You can only measure an athlete against his competition at the time. Jesse Owens, Roger Bannister and Babe Ruth are your prime examples. Remember back then athletes played all the sports. Have you ever watched some of today's basketball players throw a baseball. pathetic.