A few months ago on First Take, former NBA guard JJ Redick mocked Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy’s accomplishments by saying that he was “guarded by plumbers and fireman”. Well, LA Lakers great Jerry West clearly didn’t agree as he slammed JJ Reddick’s whole career by essentially calling him a nobody.
First off, let me just say that it is great to see an old-timer (which Jerry West most definitely is) stick up for another old-timer. Unlike the vast majority of sports across the US and the globe, I would argue that old-time (1940’s-1975 era) basketball players are the most disrespected by the newer generations.
In sports like baseball, hockey, and football, the old-time players are still revered as legends and G.O.A.T.S. of their respective sports. I still see people rank Gordie Howe (Career: 1946-1980) as the greatest hockey player, and Babe Ruth (Career: 1914-1935) and Willie Mayes (Career: 1948-1973) as the greatest baseball players. And prior to Tom Brady’s most recent Super Bowl wins, I saw arguments for Joe Montana (Career: 1979-1994) and Johnny Unitas (Career: 1956-1973) as the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
But, in basketball, any “G.O.A.T.” conversation is usually capped at 1980-present day players (the only exception is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who played in the 70’s and 80’s). Clearly, JJ Reddick is also an advocate such “G.O.A.T.” conversations.
Moreover, JJ Redick’s “guarded by plumbers and fireman” comments about players of the past greatly damages not only his own basketball credibility, but also the game of basketball itself.
All sports build credibly on history and greatness from players across every generation, not just the ones we see today. Unlike JJ Redick, Jerry West knows this. The man is the logo of the NBA after all.
That is why he came at Redick so hard, essentially calling him a “nobody” by pointing out Redick only averaged 12.8 PPG while Cousy averaged 18.4 PPG.
Now, I don’t necessarily agree with West calling Redick a nobody as the former Orlando Magic guard was a lethal 3-point shooter in throughout his career. Yet, he is right to say that Redick really didn’t achieve anything grand during his 17 years in the NBA. Because it is true.
He was never a part of a championship winning roster and drifted between six different teams in 17 years. The hallmark signs of a professional “journeymen” in basketball.
Cousy, on the other hand, won six NBA championships with the Boston Celtics, is a 12-time All-NBA First Team member, 1957 League MVP, and 8-time Assist Leader (1952/53-1959/60). Plus, he played his entire career in Boston (apart from a 7-game run with the Cincinnati Royals when he was already past his best).
Am I saying that 1950’s and 60’s basketball players were better athletes than the ones today? No, definitely not. The athletes today are far stronger, taller, faster, and more “fit” than the ones of the 50’s and 60’s. But that doesn’t mean we should just discredit everything those players achieved. The struggles and challenges of today versus 1950’s and 1960’s basketball are VASTLY different.
Just ask Bill Russell. His courageously endurance and defiance in the face of racism for just being a player of African American decent has paved the way for every single modern player of similar ancestry. I guarantee you that he would say his accomplishments on and off the court are important, relevant, and impressive too, despite what JJ Redick would have you believe.
At the end of the day, Redick is free to have his opinion that Bob Cousy was only guarded by “plumbers and fireman”. But we are free to point out that Redick does not, and will never, have 1/10th of the awards/champions/honors that the great Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, and Jerry West earned.
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