The discussion became a big talking point after Anthony Edwards’ comments
While Kevin Garnett doesn’t believe that current NBA players could compete with those in the 90s, Stephen A. Smith has hit back at that claim.
The topic became a talking point when Anthony Edwards stated that, aside from Michael Jordan, players in the 1990s lacked the skills that current players have.
Those comments struck a chord with Kevin Garnett, a 15-time All-Star and 2004 MVP with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“If I’m being honest bro, I don’t think anybody in this generation could’ve played 20 years ago. And I’m being 100 [percent honest]. And this is to Ant, this is to everybody in our league – Tatum, all y’all,” Garnett said.
“20 years ago, you couldn’t get to a triple-stepback… We had efficiency back in the day, my dude, and it was so f***ing hard, it was too physical. And guess what? The league had to come off of it, for the flow of movement, to be able to have scoring go up, which is what we like to sit here and watch.
“I don’t think half these kids in the league could’ve been on an NBA team 20 years ago. The locker was too grown, it was too much of a fraternity, you understand?
“It was a different vibration. David Stern did a great job of taking all of the physicality out of the game.”
Stephen A. Smith weighs in
The latest name to weigh in on the debate is Stephen A. Smith, with the ESPN star arguing that current players would have competed with the 90s era.
“Because I believe [Stephen] Curry is the best shooter God ever created, I think he would’ve adjusted [to the traditional physicality of the game]. You can’t tell me that a LeBron [James] at 6’9 and 260 pounds couldn’t deal with the physicality of the old days because he would’ve been hurting people,” Smith said.
“Steph Curry could’ve played in the old days because you just don’t teach shooting ability like that. LeBron James? Any era.”
Given how much uproar Edwards’ comments have caused, time will tell whether this debate is over.
source:marca.com
