NBA legend Oscar Robertson didn’t hold back any punches while discussing today’s game in an interview with ESPN’s Mike & Mike show Thursday. The 77-year-old Hall of Famer was especially critical of today’s coaches (as transcribed by Randy Miller at NJ.com):
If I’ve got a guy who’s great shooting the ball outside, don’t you want to extend your defense out a little bit? I just don’t think coaches today in basketball understand the game of basketball. They don’t know anything about defenses. They don’t know what people are doing on the court. They talk about analytical basketball and stuff like that.
Asked if he’s ever seen a better shooter than Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Robertson added:
He’s shot well because of what’s going on in basketball today. In basketball today, it’s almost like if you can dunk or make a three-point shot, you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.
There have been some great shooters in the past. … But here again, when I played years ago, if you shot a shot outside and hit it, the next time I’m going to be up on top of you. I’m going to pressure you with three-quarters, half-court defense. But now they don’t do that. These coaches do not understand the game of basketball, as far as I’m concerned.
I think Golden State and some other teams play very well, but look at the game of basketball. They run one play. Well, maybe two plays. They’ve got a high-pick with the center, then the shooters run baseline trying to get open with blocks from the forwards. I mean that’s it. You don’t see hardly any reverse plays at all, no double screens, no weak side and whatnot.
The three-point line didn’t exist in the NBA until 1979, five years after The Big O retired. And it’s funny that Robertson says today’s coaches don’t know anything about defenses when NBA teams actually averaged more points during his career (1960-74) than they do now.
But then again, what do we know?
