NBA Hall of Famer, Rick Barry checked in to today’s episode of the Scoop B Radio Podcast. While on Scoop B Radio, Barry discussed Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Lakers superstar LeBron James, NBA GOAT Michael Jordan, John Stockton and Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade.
An NBA Champion, eight time All-Star and former league MVP during his ten year career as a member of the the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, Barry is remembered warmly for his underhanded free throw technique.
He’s also known for keeping it real in interviews discussing both today’s NBA era and his era of basketball.
Rick Barry Addresses JJ Redick’s Tenure As Lakers Coach & Bob Cousy, Firemen Critique
While chatting with Scoop B Radio, I asked Barry his opinion on newly minted Lakers coach JJ Redick. who while serving in his role as an NBA analyst on ESPN in 2022, critiqued Hall-of-Famer, Bob Cousy and his era of basketball by stating: “He was being guarded by plumbers and firemen.”
Well, Barry was rather honest about the Lakers’ hiring of Redick: “Well, it’s surprising because he has no experience, you know,” Barry tells Scoop B Radio.
“I mean, that’s happened before and some guys have been very successful so only time will tell to see how good he’s going to do, but I’m really surprised.”
With a 4-3 record in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers started out the season scorching hot but have gone 1-3 while on their current road trip.
While the jury is still out on what the Lakers and their season will be, Barry was more introspective on Redick’s critique of the past, while analyzing today’s NBA player. “I hear this a lot and people say to me, Rick. You guys couldn’t play with these guys today,” he said.
“Well, if you really understand the game and when you understand life in general, if I had everything available to the players today from training… we had zero and I mean ZERO. We were all on our own. I didn’t have a strength coach, an agility coach, or a dietician. We had tough schedules and everything else. I’d be faster, stronger, quicker, more endurance, and jump higher. It’d be a joke how much better I would be; Oscar Robertson would be and the guys that played in my era would be today if we were playing. So for anyone to say that we couldn’t compete, stop trying to compare different eras. Compare people in their own era and stop with this ‘GOAT’ stuff.”
Michael Jordan, LeBron James & The GOAT Conversation
The GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James will continue on and on. Barry sees it a bit differently. “When I was the GOAT, I thought that was the guy that screwed everything up,” he shared.
“It wasn’t the greatest of all time, you know? So, the thing is that you can’t compare players in different positions — you can’t compare Wilt Chamberlain to Magic Johnson. You can’t compare LeBron James to a point guard. I mean, just don’t do that. Stop doing that in all the sports. Compare them at their own positions and you can have a meaningful conversation and stop comparing eras.”
Since Barry is adamant about not comparing eras, I asked him whether he thinks Michael Jordan is the GOAT of his era. Here’s what he said: “Michael Jordan was the greatest 2-guard of his time. No question about it and STILL one of the greatest 2-guards ever! But the thing is, just compare him for his time. And Kobe was great but he happened to play when Michael played so he has to play second fiddle to Michael but, I love Kobe. I’m one of Kobe’s biggest fans and it’s such a tragedy and I don’t want to get into that.”
LeBron James didn’t play in MJ’s era.
But LBJ did play against Kobe Bryant. Some basketball purists think that it is more fair to compare James’ skillset to Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson than to His Airness.
Barry weighed in on that notion about James while on Scoop B Radio by stating: “Well, they all played different positions. Mike was a 2-guard and LeBron’s a 3-man who can play the 1. He’s versatile. He can play the 4 and probably play the 5 on some teams. But he’s incredibly talented but he’s basically a 3. So if you’re gonna compare him, compare him to Larry Bird during the time when he played some together but, he’s a 3. So don’t compare him to those other guys.”
Is Dwyane Wade A GOAT in his era?
High praise for all involved. Since we’re discussing eras and positions, Heat icon Dwyane Wade and his career are worth examining. A three-time NBA Champion, Wade’s career spanned 16 seasons and he now has a statue in the M-I-A.
Million Dollar Question: If MJ is the greatest 2-guard ever, where does D-Wade fit in the 2-guard NBA landscape? “Well, Dwayne Wade is one of the great players obviously,” Rick Barry tells Scoop B Radio.
“Another two-guard and he happened to play with other great people. But here’s the deal: LeBron wouldn’t have had the success that he had WITHOUT Dwayne Wade! You don’t win championships by yourself. It’s a team. You have to have other people and LeBron was fortunate enough to have a great player in Dwayne Wade who was able to do amazing things and so, people have to appreciate that it’s not an individual sport, it’s a team sport and you don’t win without your teammates contributing.”
John Stockton & the NBA’s Assist Record vs. LeBron James’ Scoring Record
Rick Barry discussed Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Dwyane Wade, Oscar Robertson, however one contributor to the 90s NBA’s landscape that Barry also touched on is Utah Jazz Hall of Famer John Stockton. I queried Barry on whether it is more likely that someone will break LeBron James’ scoring record OR whether someone will break the league’s assist record held by Stockton? “That’s a tough one,” Barry tells Scoop B Radio.
“I would have to give some thought and analysis but here’s the deal: I was just talking to Oscar Robertson here and I have great respect for and played against him in that era, we never thought about stats. Oscar didn’t think about triple-doubles! He just went out there and played and he happened to get triple-doubles, you know? The difference between him and [Russell] Westbrook is Westbrook is trying to get triple-doubles. Oscar wasn’t trying to get triple-doubles and he did it; and he almost did it for about three or four seasons. So, statistics aren’t really all that important; you just want to help your team win. To be honest with you, if I could come back and play right now, I’d be a point guard. No, I would play point guard I was quicker and faster than most guards and I could handle the ball some; I would have to be a better ball handler, but we didn’t have all the drills that we have now but I would want to do that because as a point guard, and I kind of did this as a small forward — you can control the destiny of your team. You are the guy in charge. It’s like the quarterback in football. It’s an important position and that’s what I would be; I would be the point guard… I would want that ball in my hands! And I got more satisfaction actually out of making a great pass to a teammate to give him an easy basket than I did making a basket myself.”
Anthony Davis & Joel Embiid
Lakers big man Anthony Davis is the NBA’s scoring leader averaging 32.6 points per contest. Meanwhile, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has not suited up for the City of Brotherly Love this season. Barry gave his thoughts on both players and their contemporaries.
Barry on Anthony Davis: “What I was impressed about him was the fact that I didn’t realize how big he is! He’s a big strong guy, but what I loved about him was how much respect for him that he changed his game and not to worry about scoring points and being a rim protector blocking shots and playing some defense. That’s what it takes for a team to win and he did a great job and I don’t think he was given enough credit adapting his game to be a part of the USA’s Olympic Team to win the gold medal.”
On Embiid Barry says: “Well Embiid is not quite in the same league as the Joker as far as passing and seeing the floor the way he does and the inside game as well. He can do some of that, but he likes to shoot the ball outside as well.”
Lastly, we have now entered an era of position-less basketball in the NBA. Forwards like LeBron James and Ben Simmons can play guard and center like Nikola Jokic are playmakers. Rick Barry is amazed. “The centers got taken off the All-Star ballot,” laughed Barry.
“I almost fell out of bed that year when they did that a couple years ago! I mean, you got all these 7-foot guys all wanting to shoot 3-point shots! Now, the guy that I love because he can do it all is The Joker [Nikola Jokić] because he can still go inside; he can use the right and the left hand and he’s an incredible passer, he can shoot the midrange, he can shoot the 3. He’s a very special player and a very unique player and I hope that more people who are growing up these young kids will try to fashion themselves after the way the Joker plays the game at the center position because there isn’t coach in the league I don’t think wouldn’t want to have the Joker on his team.”
Rick Barry discussed tons. You can watch is full interview on Scoop B Radio by clicking here.
