Nikola Jokic: Basketball is better today

[High quality poster]

Joker is no more skilled than guys like Divac, and Sabonis…

 

[In The Zone '98]

Wemby is literally the mon-stars from Space Jam.

They’d call the police if he showed up at a pick up game in 1992

 

[RedBull]

Agree
Yeah, but during Jordan's early run, the old timers reminded us that Connie Hawkins, Dr. J, David Thompson existed.

And when the Classic Sports Network came out, we saw their work for ourselves.
=====
One thing I will say from personal experience, and many actual pro players said it too, NY area hoops fans know and respect the game. When I stayed in the city, the barbershop sports talk was none of the espn-parrot talk that exists online


12 year old kids were in there talking about Oscar Robertson and Walt Frazier

Truth. When Jordan was hitting his peak, my pops loved Jordan’s game, but he always swore by Doc, Thompson, and Earl the Pearl. He felt 60’s and 70’s players were better than 80’s and 90’s players, who he felt thrived from TV exposure and were diluted because of the ABA. However, he never downplayed the players and said the 60’s/70’s would kill the 80’s/90’s era.

 

[Harry B]

thats not true, theres plenty of NFL old heads that have popped shyt over the years calling the league soft.

Yes thy criticize the rules not the players.

But of course there been like 30k players in the nfl, that a few of them are like nba guys is not wild.

But this shyt about I would average 45 when you 3p shooting was on par with an average rookie is strictly an nba thing

 

[Jplaya2023]

Joker is no more skilled than guys like Divac, and Sabonis…

Thats who his master splinter(s) were.

The ironic part is either or especially sabonis was on another plane athletically than joker was in his life before his injuries

 

[ghostwriterx]

I mean, it’s pretty obvious.

Only ones who disagree are some stuck in the past types.

Like arguing players from the 1940s-50s were better than players in the 1990s on some generational hate

I’m the biggest Knick fan in the world, but do I believe John Starks and Oakley would be all star level players today like they were in the 90s?

Hell to the fukkin no

I mean they weren't really all-star level in the 90s either lol.

 

[Rekkapryde]

Also, like some of us need to stop getting mad at the younger generation for thinking their era of things are better, because we did the SAME thing growing up. Like breh said, evolution doesn’t necessarily equate better either.

the end

 

[ghostwriterx]

Here’s the issue

John Starks & Oakley came into the game when certain philosophies were associated to the game

What was considered a “good shot” was different
Your contributions to the game was limited to your size & position

These guys coming into the game aren’t just uniquely talented from the womb…They’re navigating new age ideals & technology related to the game

Now if after adequate training & exposure Starks & Oakley still couldn’t cut it?

Starks was literally a walk on who shot 41% from the field for his career. Good defender, scrappy, heart etc. but he just wasn't that skilled compared to other guards in his era much less this one. Same with Oakley.

 

[High quality poster]

Thats who his master splinter(s) were.

The ironic part is either or especially sabonis was on another plane athletically than joker was in his life before his injuries

So how can the game be better if the most skilled player today is comparable to guy who weren’t even top 20 back in their prime?

You can say guys are slightly more skilled individually for sure, but the game as a whole has not improved. Damn near every night there’s just blowouts, no matter the matchups.

 

[BigTyme Records]

Only a fukkin idiot would actually think players were more talented 30-40 years ago.


That’s stupid

 

[Jplaya2023]

So how can the game be better if the most skilled player today is comparable to guy who weren’t even top 20 back in their prime?

You can say guys are slightly more skilled individually for sure, but the game as a whole has not improved. Damn near every night there’s just blowouts, no matter the matchups.

We agree. I say the game is different today not "better" per say

 

[Jplaya2023]

Only a fukkin idiot would actually think players were more talented 30-40 years ago.


That’s stupid

What is your definition of talent and how it pertains to basketball

 

[ghostwriterx]

So how can the game be better if the most skilled player today is comparable to guy who weren’t even top 20 back in their prime?

You can say guys are slightly more skilled individually for sure, but the game as a whole has not improved. Damn near every night there’s just blowouts, no matter the matchups.

Divac is not comparable to Joker.
Prime Sabonis maybe, but definitely not the version that was in the NBA,

 

[BigTyme Records]

What is your definition of talent and how it pertains to basketball

Everything that the player can do. International players be so much better now should show you that the baseline of talent is just higher now.

Each generation build on the last.

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Starks was literally a walk on who shot 41% from the field for his career. Good defender, scrappy, heart etc. but he just wasn't that skilled compared to other guards in his era much less this one. Same with Oakley.

I’m aware of all parties involved. Not sure why you’re telling me this.