“JJ should be thankful he’s made as much money as he’s made” - Jerry West says JJ Redick calling players from his and Bob Cousy’s era “plumbers and firemen” was very disrespectful
JJ Redick has started the first chapter of his life after basketball. Along with his hit podcast 'The Old Man and The Three,' he is also regularly on ESPN television. The former lottery pick has racked up a large number of fans with his heated debates with Stephen A. Smith.
While many have come to adore JJ Redick for always saying what's on his mind, he has made some enemies along the way, primarily NBA players from generations before him.
During an episode of ESPN's 'First Take,' JJ Redick made some unflattering comments about Celtics legend Bob Cousy and other players from the '60s, saying that the level of competition was lower than what it is today. He made sure to pay respect to those who paved the way for guys like him to live out their dreams, but some still took offense to what he said.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West recently opened up about his feelings with JJ Redick following his comments. He said he felt disrespected by what was said and thinks Redick should be more humble when talking about players from the past.
"I know J.J. a little bit, a very smart kid and everything — but tell me what his career looked like. What did he do that determined games? He averaged, what, 12 points a game in the league?
“Somewhere along the line, numbers count. At that point in time, the players aren’t what they used to be. JJ certainly wasn’t gonna guard the elite players. And so you can nitpick anyone. The only reason I’m talking about him is he was not an elite player. He was a very good player. But he had a place on a team because of his ability to shoot the ball.”
"JJ should be very thankful he's made as much money as he's made... I just think it's very disrespectful myself."
“I just think it’s very disrespectful”
Jerry West is the latest NBA legend to chime in on the J.J. Redick/Bob Cousy “plumbers and firemen” conversation
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Was JJ Redick out of line with his comments about previous NBA generations?
This is an interesting incident because a case could be made for both sides. On the one hand, Redick is slightly out of line to compare the talent back then to that of today. From an athletic and fundamental standpoint, the NBA has made huge strides since the days of Bob Cousy and Jerry West.
Bob Cousy responded to JJ Redick’s comments about who Cousy played against in his era. https://t.co/twxCyXH7tX
From West's point of view, it's easy to see why statements like this bring such outrage. Players of previous generations fought hard to build the NBA from the ground up, and should be thanked for their efforts.
Another reason why West was so distraught is because of how things connected to the game have advanced. Players now have state-of-the-art facilities and countless coaches and trainers to help them improve their game. Comparing that to a time when guys had to work a full-time job in the offseason instead of train is a bit unfair.
JJ Redick has been in and around the NBA for some time now. While it may have come out the wrong way, it's safe to assume he meant no ill-will when he made the comments.