Gilbert Arenas is a polarizing figure in the NBA sports media. He has a unique way of comparing and connecting two eras to present a narrative that would be interesting for the fans of this social media epoch. In his latest livestream, he went on a tangent, that has some unique selling points. But are the OGs of the game going to take this Stephen Curry insult, lightly?

In the 80s and 90s, the NBA was still under the spell of the big man. And the point guard played the facilitator and the floor general. But those days are gone now. And the guards like Steph, Lillard, or Ja just explode the score board with their numbers.

Did they have it easy?

According to Gilbert, in those days, point guards like Isiah Thomas and Gary Payton had it easy. They were guarding other facilitators like themselves who weren’t trying to score, or score as little as 5 points. While the centers and forwards, like Knicks‘ Patrick Ewing and Utah‘s Karl Malone, would rule the paint and shoulder much of the scoring load.

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If the old school point guards were playing the likes of Stephen Curry, their defensive numbers would take a beating. And more than anything, they would have to score at a higher pace and consistency. That gives credibility to Gilbert’s argument and also nudges the attention to the centers of the present era.

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These days, one-dimensional centers do not find a role in contending teams. From setting screens to pick and roll action, their involvement is mandatory. And talent levels of the centers like Jokic, and Anthony Davis have gone off the roof. They are point guards in the centers’ bodies. Thus, it is safe to say that the game has only evolved with time.

Are there any classic PGs left in the game?

There is one player who has the old school point guard mentality with the scoring ability of a shooting guard. It is Chris Paul. CP3 still sets the pace and tempo of the game while setting up his team. And he has a lethal mid-range game to be a consistent scorer too. And he can do all that while making his teammates better.

In the old school vs the new school debate, Gilbert Arenas’ telling of the current superstars’ scoring abilities is right. However, it is not the complete picture.

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In the playoffs, when grinding becomes the norm, teams look for defensive guards like Jrue Holiday to save the day. Defense winning championships is an old school mantra that is here to stay.