LA Lakers legend Michael Cooper is the latest to mention JJ Redick’s comments on physicality during the Larry Bird and Steph Curry era. The ESPN analyst argued that Bird and Curry basically have to go through the same type of defensive tactics to score despite playing in separate eras.
On his podcast, “Showtime with Coop,” the five-time NBA champion criticized Redick:
“That guy has no idea how basketball was played in the 80s and I guarantee you this JJ Redick. If you played in the ’80s… I would have locked you up. You wouldn’t have shot, you wouldn’t have shot anything.”
JJ Redick’s oversimplification of physicality between the ’80s and today’s NBA rankled two former greats of the game. The league had different rules back then. Players had more leeway to try to contain opponents.
A harsh foul during the Larry Bird era would have easily warranted an ejection, if not suspension, in today’s NBA. Back then, there were more illegal screenshots, screenshots, and adjustments. Since the early 2000s, the league has been putting measures in place to protect players, especially those who play offense.
Michael Cooper, the 1986-87 Defensive Player of the Year winner, had numerous battles with the Boston Celtics in the ’80s. In most of their legendary championship games, it was “Coop” who had the enviable task of shutting down one of the best players in the NBA.
Cooper knew what it took to try to contain Bird. However, he, the LA Lakers and most of the NBA couldn’t do much against “Larry Legend” in his prime. Here’s what he had to say about Reddick’s comparison between the Hall of Famer and Curry:
“JJ Redick, this guy here who was a journeyman, he was a poor man’s Danny Ainge. In today’s NBA, I don’t know what game he’s watching; you can’t tag a guy. Every time you tag somebody, a 3 – shooter, get close to them when they are landing, it’s a foul.
“Larry Bird was one of the best shooters to ever play the game. Fuck the percentages, that’s not what it’s about. It’s about making big shots. That guy, man.”
Like Michael Cooper, Dominique Wilkins didn’t hold back on JJ Redick’s analysis
Dominique Wilkins, who was the best player for the Atlanta Hawks in Larry Bird’s prime years, played in the same conference as the Boston Celtics great. And like Michael Cooper, he too couldn’t contain his passionate rebuttal of JJ Redick’s analysis.
Here’s Wilkins also lashing out at JJ Redick for his sizzling take on SiriusXM NBA:
“First of all, Redick doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. I’m like, what basketball was I watching? Saying something as idiotic as that is ridiculous.
“The physicality that was part of the league… I just don’t like disrespect. Saying that about Larry Bird, less physically, is (Redick) stupid? It’s just a stupid comment.”
After all the backlash, Redick refused to take back his comments. On his “The Old Man and the Three” podcast, he responded to Michael Cooper and Dominique Wilkins:
“I did not disrespect Larry Bird. I questioned the narrative around the physical. I said for every montage video you can show me of Larry Bird in a headlock under the basket, I can show you a montage video of him shooting open jumpers. Of him coming off pin-downs.
“Yeah, I can show Steph the same way. I can show Steph being held, I can show Larry being held. It’s all basketball.”