The NBA logo man Jerry West recently responded to former NBA player JJ Redick’s comments on the vintage NBA. Jerry West is one of the greatest players to grace the NBA. He is an NBA champion and the only player on a losing team to win the NBA Finals MVP. Redick commented on how the NBA currently is far more talented than it ever was. JJ’s comments were in relation to NBA, comparing Bob Cousy to Chris Paul. 

Redick took to the First Take podcast to explain how the players in the 60s and 70s were not nearly as talented as they were in the last few decades. The competition has increased, and players are far more talented and competent. West completely thrashed Redick’s take and called him out on being a sub-level player. 

West played with some phenomenal talent. Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson, and Wilt Chamberlain are some of the biggest names in history that all played in the vintage era.

The 60s and 70s saw some of the most legendary players take to basketball. Jerry ranks fifth all-time in points per game. He made nine All-Star Games and six First-Team All-NBA selections, putting him up there with those that came after him, like Jordan and Kobe. 

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Reddick ridiculed the NBA in the old days, and Jerry West felt disrespected by it. Ex-Pelicans player Redick argued that Cousy couldn’t be compared to athletes who competed after 1980 and that he never had a career field goal percentage above 40%. JJ Redick has addressed this disparity several times in his own podcast titled ‘Old Man and the Three.’

Jerry West feels disrespected by JJ Redick’s words

West has always rooted for the legends that followed him. Jerry West took Kobe Bryant under his wing. He was not alien to the greatness of players that came after him. The disrespect came when he felt Redick was not acknowledging how much the players had to struggle during his days. West questioned Redick’s credibility for the comments he made.

Jerry West said, “Tell me what his career looked like; what did he do that determined games? He averaged 12 points a game in the league.”

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend said that facilities and pay were not nearly as great as they are now, which is why athletes suffered in the vintage era. West also said, “We didn’t have the facilities to get better; we had to work in the summer to support our family.”

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Jerry is a big fan of Kobe, Jordan, and LeBron. He recognizes their talents and greatness too. West ended the matter by pointing out that Redick could not guard any of the elite players from his time.

JJ Redick slams the vintage NBA

According to Sports Illustrated, The entire Jerry West and JJ Redick debate started from his comments on the ‘First Take’ podcast. Redick said, “He was being guarded by plumbers and firemen.”

This was in response to the 29-assist game by Bob Cousy. NBA Players were not full-time athletes in the 60s. During the offseason, they’d have regular nine-to-five jobs. This debate certainly is two-sided as both West and Reddick make great points.