Kevin Garnett: ‘I don’t think guys from 20 years ago could play in this game’

[DirtDirtDirt]

In these discussion I always think of those Very competitive/physical Ewing/Starks Knicks back in the day, that’s a team that could never survive today

Pacers similar, Rick Smits and the Davis brothers would be spare parts these days. Reggie and Mark Jackson could probably have success in any era

Isiah and Dumars also any era, but Lambier/Mahorn/Edwards, even the microwave, would struggle to give you anything in today’s game

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I'm not sure why people keep bringing up the most proficient big at shooting threes from the 80s lol

Mahorn yes. He would've sucked

 

[flyerhawk]

Im curious if Shaq would’ve bulked up so much in the modern era. People forget how athletic he was when he first got in the league.

I think he still mostly would’ve been fine so there’s less big heavies in the league to guard him, and all the bs guys got away with would’ve been called more often

Yeah he would have likely been fine today. But not the unstoppable force he was back in the day. He still wouldn't be able to hit free throws or outside shots.

 

[flyerhawk]

I'm not sure why people keep bringing up the most proficient big at shooting threes from the 80s lol

Mahorn yes. He would've sucked

Because it isn't just about shooting 3s. Laimbeer's defense was heavily based on physicality to the point of assault. As I said, he would be getting flagrants constantly in today's game. A big who can't defend but can shoot 3s isn't anymore viable than a big who can't shoot 3s.

 

[The Q]

Yeah he would have likely been fine today. But not the unstoppable force he was back in the day. He still wouldn't be able to hit free throws or outside shots.

but his defender would have 3 fouls before halftime every game

 

[thunderc]

I'm not sure why people keep bringing up the most proficient big at shooting threes from the 80s lol

Mahorn yes. He would've sucked

He never would have played from being suspended all the time

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

I'm not sure why people keep bringing up the most proficient big at shooting threes from the 80s lol

Mahorn yes. He would've sucked

Lambier?

his lack of athleticism would be a problem today

everyone is an elite athlete these days

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Lambier?

his lack of athleticism would be a problem today

everyone is an elite athlete these days

Oh boy

I'm all about era to era athletes get better but we are completely jumping the shark with this argument

 

[Stakesarehigh]

He never would have played from being suspended all the time

You adjust to the era. Draymond and Demarcus would've been just as bad as Bill

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Hakeem is on record that guys today don't even have the skillset to do a lot of his post moves.

Again...today's athletes are better than 20 years ago and 20 years from now...same deal

But can't compete?

 

[msgkings322]

He didn’t have the handles to break someone down off the dribble.

He was a catch and shoot, catch and attack an aggressive close out type player.

Much more like Klay than like Curry.

Klay is just a better version of Reggie Miller.

Much better defender too

 

[thunderc]

You adjust to the era. Draymond and Demarcus would've been just as bad as Bill

No fn way on Green, Cousins maybe

 

[Golden Spur]

Draymond Green strikes me as a more athletic Charles Oakley.

 

[Robotech]

Hakeem is on record that guys today don't even have the skillset to do a lot of his post moves.

Again...today's athletes are better than 20 years ago and 20 years from now...same deal

But can't compete?

Bigs today: "What are post moves?"

 

[Robotech]

Oh boy

I'm all about era to era athletes get better but we are completely jumping the shark with this argument

Yeah, it's not like every big today is particularly quick. There is still room for the Lopez brothers, Mason Plumlee, Cody Zeller, etc. Heck, Boban is still in the NBA.

And there have always been elite athletes from the past. Pluck Bill Russell out of 1960 and he might be the most athletic big in the NBA today. He was a high jump champion and he ran the 400 meter dash in 49 seconds. What big today can 400 meters that fast?

 

[Robotech]

Hakeem is on record that guys today don't even have the skillset to do a lot of his post moves.

Again...today's athletes are better than 20 years ago and 20 years from now...same deal

But can't compete?

Oliver Miller might have trouble competing in today's NBA, though.

 

[Robotech]

Besides Bill Russell, the other absurdly athletic big man is, of course, Wilt. I wonder if this picture was doctored? Supposedly, Wilt had a higher vertical than Michael Jordan.

 

[logic]

Agreed that the 80s was the ideal mix

I'm not sure why people keep bringing up the most proficient big at shooting threes from the 80s lol

Mahorn yes. He would've sucked

Who has brought up Arvydas Sabonis? Though I guess he was 90's for the NBA and I don't know if the USSR had a 3-point line then.

 

[logic]

Oliver Miller might have trouble competing in today's NBA, though.

View attachment 264907View attachment 264909

I'm not sure he was competing in the NBA then.

 

[Mebert]

Who has brought up Arvydas Sabonis? Though I guess he was 90's for the NBA and I don't know if the USSR had a 3-point line then.

It is easy to see what Sabonis would have been in this league, he was Jokic. That assumes he would have come over in his 20's instead of his 30s though.