Believe it or not, a former NBA player has strong opinions about how a current star would have fared back in the day.
Appearing on SLAM’s No Pump Fakes podcast, former power forward Charles Oakley said two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo “would come off the bench back in the day.”
“He wouldn’t have been a force back in the day. … He would have struggled, they would make him shoot jump shots,” Oakley said. “He wouldn’t be doing a euro step to the basket, somebody gonna knock his head off.”
Charles Oakley says Giannis Antetokounmpo would come off the bench in his era 😯
(Via @SLAMonline | h/t @AhnFireDigital ) pic.twitter.com/K2KD1waL22
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 25, 2022
Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game for the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.
The 27-year-old is 6’11” with a 7’3″ wingspan and has bulked up considerably over the years. He has already made five All-NBA teams and received four All-Defensive nods, as well as earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019-2020.
A better question might be how Oakley how would manage in today’s era. While he questioned the Greek Freak’s ability to flourish without a reliable jump shot, Oakley made 68 of 269 three-point attempts throughout his 19-season career.
As Oakley’s comments circulated, fans were quick to doubt his logic and accolades.
Charles Oakley is PJ Tucker without the shoe collection. Giannis is a top 75 player all time. Oak should sit this one out. https://t.co/2REcghBfB4
— Bd (@Bdav1s) February 26, 2022
Charles Oakley would be lucky to make a 12 man roster in today’s league… but go get your media attention https://t.co/LevMLDEOJ0
— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) February 25, 2022
Charles Oakley calls Giannis “skinny” and people would knock his head off in the 90s….
This is why you can’t talk basketball with old heads. Age isn’t wisdom apparently. Just ridiculously stupid. https://t.co/qWC0DQhmeO pic.twitter.com/gNYpgh451W
— Ty Shute’ (@TyShute331) February 27, 2022
Would a 6’8″ enforcer with no jump shot receive the same role today? Let’s not even bother asking if Antetokounmpo would start in the ’90s, because everybody besides Oakley knows the correct answer.
The post Charles Oakley’s Bold Comment On Giannis Is Going Viral appeared first on The Spun.