Former NBA champion and Hall of Famer Rick Barry has joined the conversation surrounding contemporary players’ comments on the capabilities of previous generations. Addressing the notion that past players wouldn’t thrive in today’s league, Barry offered a candid perspective on the evolution of the game.
In a recent interview with Joy De’Angela, Barry debunked the notion that past generations, often labeled as ‘plumbers,’ would struggle in today’s NBA landscape. He countered by emphasizing the caliber of players from his era, highlighting the presence of dominant centers and the differences in playing style.
“They hardly have centers. The guys that are centers now, they’re not centers,” Barry remarked. He drew attention to the shift in positions, with modern centers often exhibiting perimeter skills and prioritizing three-point shooting over traditional post play. “I mean, they don’t block shots. They don’t protect the rim. It’s a different game. People don’t understand.”
Barry also highlighted the contrasting conditions of his playing days compared to the modern era. He noted the lack of specialized training, advanced recovery resources, and travel conveniences available to today’s players. Despite these challenges, Barry asserted that his generation’s players would excel in the contemporary game.
“I’ve had many people say ‘Well, Rick, you know, you guys wouldn’t be able to play with these guys today.’ I said, ‘OK, what drugs are you on?’ Because you got a problem,” Barry said. “Because if you really understood the game and you really knew what the difference was between when we played and the guys playing here, we had nothing to help us.
“I didn’t have an agility coach. I didn’t have a dietician. I didn’t travel on charter planes so that we could get a good night’s sleep and get to the next city and have a nice day. We drove ourselves around in rental cars. I mean, we had $8 a day per predem. These guys get, you know, chartered food on their planes. We didn’t have whirlpools and we didn’t have saunas and we didn’t have masseuses and we didn’t have any of that.
“If I played today, I’d be faster, stronger, quicker, more endurance, jump higher,” Barry said, confidently asserting that the limitations of his time would have been overcome with today’s resources. He praised the skills of his contemporaries, including legendary players like Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, while suggesting they would have thrived even more in the current environment.
