What Dominique Wilkins and others are missing in the pointless debate over Stephen Curry and Larry Bird

Wilkins blasted JJ Redick’s comments on the physicality of different eras.

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See what happens when the NBA goes on break? We get never-ending debates about people from different eras of basketball that can never be settled.

This time it was the Human Highlight Reel, Dominique Wilkins, weighing in on a debate originally birthed by JJ Redick and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo over whether Stephen Curry deals with more physicality than Larry Bird did — which on its face sounds absurd.

Last week, on an episode of First Take, the recently retired Redick said Curry does. However, listening closely rather than emotionally, his words can be interpreted as very specific to the attention Curry receives as a 3-point threat. The 63-year-old Russo wasn’t trying to hear it though, knowing as a first-hand witness how much more physical basketball of the 80s was.

Of course, there was a middle ground in their argument if they wanted to find it, because while Bird, Wilkins and other players of their era absolutely had to deal with more overall physicality, Curry may very well receive more attention beyond the arc in an era with more emphasis on the long ball — and as a very literal threat from half-court. But Russo and Redick were both already seeing red and, well, now ‘Nique is too.

The Hall of Famer unsurprisingly sided with Russo Tuesday on SiriusXM NBA Radio, saying Redick “doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.” And man, we don’t have to go this hard.

The debate between Redick and Russo started around a conversation about the best 3-point shooters of all-time. That context matters, because Redick was simply trying to say Curry has been able to put up his eye-popping 3-point numbers even while teams are geared to stop it.

I wouldn’t pretend to know more about 80s basketball than Russo or Wilkins — I wasn’t born until 1987 — but when I’ve watched classic games, the 3-pointer usually appeared to be a last resort. Most players didn’t even look to attempt it, and the ones who did often waited until it was open. Even then, players like Bird would pass on it at times. That obviously effected how it was defended. Players on both teams packed the paint. Bird’s first touches of a possession were often inside the arc. That’s where the bumping commenced.

If Bird shot more threes, this wouldn’t even be a debate. But he didn’t, so we never got to see how teams of that time would’ve responded, which is why this comparison is pointless.

But nuance only gets in the way of a good debate. So carry on with the bickering, gentlemen.

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Since you can’t talk about Larry Bird without bringing up Magic Johnson, FTW’s Bryan Kalbrosky had a chance to catch up with the legend.

Among so much more, the two chatted about the Lakers’ reunion with D’Angelo Russell, and Johnson thinks LA is a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.

“I think D’Angelo has really grown and matured. He can score the basketball. He can pass the basketball. He doesn’t turn it over a lot. That’s what I like about him, too. That pick-and-roll with Anthony Davis is going to be special. You have to pick your poison for what you try to do whether it’s Russell coming off the PnR or Anthony Davis rolling to the basket and they’ll have some more time playing with LeBron. If the Lakers can get in, and I think they will, nobody is going to want to play them. That’s for sure.”

Shootaround

— Sykes: Nate McMillan wasn’t the problem in Atlanta

— 2023 NBA All-Star Game ratings reportedly hit a new low

— Bronny James is a top-10 pick in ESPN’s 2024 mock draft

— Q&A: Julius Randle on the 3-point contest and his son’s funny reaction

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