It’s time to read about another time an old guy thought everything was better when he was younger.
Dennis Rodman, rebounding machine and friend of a ruthless North Korean dictator, told Dan Patrick a couple of years ago that LeBron James would only be “average” if he played in Rodman’s era.
The full quote, Via ESPN Chicago, is just as crotchety as you think:
“It’s really not a comparison. If LeBron was playing in the late ’80s and early ’90s, he would be just an average player. To do what Michael has done … what he did was more charisma, there was more articulating and stuff like that. LeBron is more like … there’s no flash to his game. He’s a great player, don’t get me wrong, he’s a hell of player, I’ll give him that. But to me Scottie (Pippen) and Michael are probably the two best one-two punches I’ve ever seen.”
I bring this up because James recently defended Steph Curry from the likes of Oscar Robertson, Charles Barkley and others. At least former 3-point magician Dennis Scott was willing to praise Curry, but comments like Rodman’s are the more common occurrence.
Have you ever watched an old game in any sport from 10 years ago? It could be basketball, hockey, football, whatever. It’s terrible. Everyone is smaller and slower. Yes, Jordan was a more dominant player in relation to his era, but if you think for one second the 6-foot-8, 250-pound James wouldn’t dominate in the late ’80s, or early ’90s, or in his prime, you’re very likely 40 or older and working on a time machine to bring you back to your early 20s.
There is no truth to the rumor that later in the interview, Rodman claimed he could throw a football over those mountains.
