I hope this question makes sense! I couldn’t think of a better way to word it.
Anyways, this post was inspired by all the “was XXX player from the early 2000s actually great” posts popping up in this thread that people who watched them play provide important context for that goes beyond the states.
Who are you all excited to shoot down those takes (or explain why they’re better than their stats) about 20 years from now? I think one will likely be Harden. I think 20 years from now younger fans might look at his statistical profile and think he’s like a top 25 player ever (or close), and I’m excited to be there to tell them why they’re wrong. Another might be Butler. 20 years from now, young fans who didn’t watch Butler basically be a top-3 most feared guy in the playoffs for a half decade might be baffled by why some of us old fans rate him so highly.
Who are some of yours (and feel free to tell me why I’m wrong about Butler or Harden :) )?
Draymond Green. His impact during his prime in that system was huge
Sam Bowie.
Sorry, Portland. Maybe you should just stop drafting centers. Bowie missed two full seasons at Kentucky after suffering stress fractures in his legs. Whatever, he was 7’1", what could go wrong? Everything. Bowie was only able to manage 139 games in five years with Portland before salvaging a bit of hope during a solid four years with the Nets. Oh yeah, some guy named Michael Jordan was drafted third overall that year, one pick after him. Combined with the injuries, that is more than enough to make him the biggest draft bust of all time. Bowie was just one of a collection of Blazers big men who failed to reach their potential. At the time, Portland was fixated on drafting a center, as it was already a great team having won 48 games the previous season. Bowie was supposed to be the final piece to the puzzle. The roster was already stacked with talent from the likes of Clyde Drexler, Mychal Thompson, Kiki Vandeweghe and Jerome Kersey. Bowie’s downfall destroyed title hopes for this squad. The icing on the cake is that Portland lost a coin toss for the first pick in the draft that year. Who went No. 1?
Hakeem Olajuwon. End of story.
Kobe Bryant. His career averages took a dive after his Achilles injury. Many fans already downplay him. I can’t imagine what the narrative might be in 20 years.
Westbrook but in a bad way
pacers oladipo and jazz hayward
Lebron James.
Being the 2nd best player in the team for all 4 rings and still in the “GOAT” competition.
Couldn’t make it to the playoff in the west alone but won a championship with AD joining the next season.
Warriors fans going to need to be defending Mr. Triple Single when youngins be asking why there’s a statue of him outside the arena.
Russel Westbrook. People in 20 years will say that Russel Westbrook was better than Steph Curry because of his stats. Russ will be the Wilt Chamberlain of the future.
I will go to war for wolves/pistons/knicks Derrick Rose
MANU
Ron Artest (Metta World Peace). Two way stud in his prime and changed the NBA forever with the “Malice At The Palace” incident.
It’s gonna be kawhi. He has less career points than Sam cassell. People who grew up post 2010s aren’t gonna respect kawhi as much as us and we need to understand that.
No one, “I can’t wait for 20 years from now” is not in my vocabulary
Is there a link to that 2000s thread?
I love these conversations.
I think Jimmy Butler is a tad overrated as a playoff performer and his team doesn’t get enough credit. I’m fine with people retconning this Heat run as mostly Spo. Cause the internet tries to tell us nowadays that Butler carried two teams to a finals, and lost them because his team failed him. Instead of just losing to the better team. Him and KD get gassed for losing like no one I’ve ever seen before lol.