[valentine]

i know its mostly a black league but what happened to all the good white players/starters household names and stars like back in the day

chris mullin
mark price
stockton
tom chambers
jeff hornacek
dan majerle
john paxson
laimbeer
rex chapman
danny ainge
scott skiles
craig ehlo
christian laettner
larry bird
brent barry
jak sikma
steve kerr
mark eaton
shawn bradley
tim legler
pistol pete
jerry west
bill walton
dave cowens
bob cousy
danny ferry

compared to
brad miller
hinrich
korver
mike miller
david lee
steve blake
mike dunleavy jr
birdman
troy murphy
jeff foster
luke ridnour
luke walton
adam morrison
brian scalabrine
sean marks
joe alexander
travis deiner
josh mcroberts
tyler hansbrough
ryan anderson
kevin love
chris quinn
adrew bogut
chris kaman
steve nash
chase budinger

[j1232eParticipant]

every era the game changes, players change.

[llperez]

It’s gotten more athletic. I say this all the time, not just about white players, but about comparing the level of talent from past eras and the level of man on man defense and everything. The other thing is your list of white players doesn’t include any international guys. There are a lot of good international white players like Dirk, Nash, and Pau. In the past, here were far fewer international [players. It really just blew up in the last 15 years.

[RUDEBOY]

Privately i’ve been wondering the same thing..I hear some say it’s becuz leaving college early doesn’t give the really talented white players like Love and Dunleavy Jr…A chance to fully develope… Another reason i heard is becuz the league is more athletic…They say some White Hall of Famers would have a hard time in today’s game..But i think guys like Bird, Pistol Pete, McHale,Stockton and Bill Walton would still dominate today..Hell even Tom Chambers would still Dunk on people…( i hope Mark Jackson dont read this)..Today there aren’t many players fans can flock to with outgoing personalities like The Birdman… Ryan Anderson looks like he’s going to have a breakout year..Morrison seemed like he was about to become an allstar with Charlotte before injuries ..Maybe competing against Kobe and getting pushed around by Artest in practice will make him better..Remember it took Stockton & Nash a few years before they became stars..Guys like Mike Gansey , Luke Recker,Matt Walsh and Josh McRoberts were highly rated coming out of high school…But none of them blossom like scouts felt they would..Watching Tyler Coppenrath in college..I thought he could make the league as a reserve but he wasn’t even drafted…College players like Cole Aldrich, Luke Babbitt,Kyle Singler and Gordon Hayward are a few that have 1st round potential…

[The Big O]

It’s gotten more athletic. NO, it hasn’t. The league just has more people lifting weights.
BUlkier…The players have just gotten bigger and stronger and hit the weights harder.

Heck some football players can play in the NBA bcuz its more bulk than finesse at times.

Nate Robinson is a prime example he got recruited to Washington as a football player then switched it up and went to basketball.

Lebron played football and hits the weights. We all know about D howard after he got baptized By Kobe Bryant back in his rookie season started hitting the weights.

The first time I realized this is back when Steve Kerr was a tv analyst and he said that the league always had speedy players like Nate Archibald who was really 6’1 BTW. And freak athletes like Dr. J and track stars like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

Then the weightlifters came along In the 80s u had Clyde Drexler who stayed in the gym bcuz of work ethic
and Charles Barkley was 6’6 260 (on average lol) then u had Dennis Rodman who was the hardest worker in the gym (on the Bulls) bar none including MJ himself

And who can FORGET THE MAILMAN himself KARL MALONE. heck mike jordan came in the league around 195 and when he started losing speed bulked up to 216 for a year then came back to 209 to maintain strength but take pressure off of his knees.

and then came THE BIG ARISTOTLE. NATURALLY the most dominant player on the planet
after Shaq u had to try to be the next Shaq not the next Kareem or Wilt, skills went out the window and weight lifting went up for everybody. Hence Lebron, Dwight Howard, heck even Dwyane Wade is 215 lbs and barely is 6’4 and 3/4.

Overall speed has been combined with added weight. And with added weight you lose what? speed.

that’s why ppl say certain players in the past can’t hang they’re too skinny and that’s why u see certain players stay in college a long time like Shane Battier and Mike Dunleavy etc.

Its to develop your BODY as much as ur skills.

[llperez]

big o, the league has without question gotten more athletic. You won’t find one nba journalist or player or coach or knowledable fan who would disagree with that.

[RUDEBOY]

Nobody ever stated that the league never had athletic players…I’m saying the league has put more emphasis in athletic ability..Guys that can run the floor…That’s 1 of the reason guys like Boozer and Hibbert went late in the draft…Scouts said they weren’t fast..I’M sure Milwaukee wish they had drafted Boozer instead of a speed merchant like Marcus Haislip.. OH yeah..I bet Cleveland wish they’d drafted Boozer in the 1st round, Instead of fast guy Dejuan Wagner…..He’ll still be with them now…And after only 6 years Neither Haislip nor Wagner are in the league…..

[McWinningParticipant]

actually Wagner suffered badly with ilnesses and injuries and that forced hom out of the league he managed 13 points a game his rookie year. so you cant call him a bust. and yeah Haislep has been bad.

[The Big O]

athleticism specifically every body’s gotten stronger

PROOF
Shaq is not athletic he’s just strong, at 6’7 230 u’ll see the homey Paul Pierce walk the ball up the floor when he’s winded
Shaq would not outrun ANY center from the past even hobbling Bill Walton
but he’d slow the game down BLACK TORNADO and dunk on your head at 340 lbs
THE GAME HAS SLOWED DOWN, to a power/post up game

B) not a lot of teams can put up 200 points in a Magic Johnson all star game anymore, but u will see lil kids weighing 200 lbs in high school that will power to the rim (Brandon Knight)

its called weight lifting, George Gervin was 185 and was dunking from near free throw line as an SG, can Joe Johnson/Brandon Roy do that? no but they can power to the rim like no other

the league has changed but don’t downplay the old school legends athleticism
its all STRENGTH no finesse

VC? 230 lbs
J-Rich was close- he’s 220 as well
the list goes on and on,
Nate Robinson power in a small package
ppl just got bigger man

[MrWoLeeParticipant]

birdman, anthony randolph. trevor ariza, tyrus thomas, monta ellis, desmond mason, etc? none of them are considered strong, but athletic.

[RUDEBOY]

I have to disagree with u..Mr Big O…strength isn’t that important in every players case. ….If thats true Maybe the Knicks should try to sign Mr. Olympia or Hulk Hogan…Shaq (use to be) an outstanding athlete ..But he’s older and isnt fast anymore..Thin Men like Reggie Miller, Rip Hamilton Stephen Curry,Steve Kerr,Tayshaun Prince and Javale McGee won’t be winning any bodybuilding titles..

[The Big O]

if u say so, the customer is always right. no more debating.
i’ma start being more marketable on these blogs and forums and stuff lol
sincerely, The Big O

[Author]

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