The most common debate in basketball right now is if current players would be able to thrive in the ’80s or the ’90s (or vice versa). While it’s unfair to compare eras, it’s also a very interesting take on today’s athletes. Recently, one of the greats, Charles Oakley, made a huge comment on the two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. His recent comments about the Greek Freak were very controversial and spark various reactions from the media and the fans.
“He wouldn’t have been a force back in the day,” Charles Oakley said. “… (Giannis) would have struggled, they would make him shoot jump shots. He wouldn’t be doing a Euro step to the basket, somebody’s gonna knock his head off. He’d come off the bench back in the day.”
Oakley played in the rough era of the ’80s and ’90s. He was famously part of the new bad boys in New York (Knicks). Best known as a scrapper, the big man does not back down from anyone.
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His effect on the court does not reflect on the stat sheets but players in his era know what Oakley was capable of.
During the ’80s and ’90s, hand-checking was still legal and put offensive players in a very tight position. Also, zone defense was not yet allowed during this time, which makes it easier for big men to dominate.
By what Oakley has said to Giannis on playing during his time, let’s judge if it can be true or not.
Giannis’s Strengths:
- Excellent Defender – his Defensive Player of the Year award and multiple NBA All-Defensive team selections would prove this.
- Ability to penetrate – if you watch Giannis play, he is an unstoppable force on the court. His ability to finish even with heavy contact is second to none.
- Speed and Agility – for a guy like Giannis, he would probably be a center during Charles Oakley’s time. But, unlike traditional centers, Antetokounmpo is very quick and agile making him a bigger threat.
Giannis’s Weakness:
- No consistent jump shot -he is a great penetrator in the paint, but he is yet to develop a consistent jumper. Though not known as a good shooter, he can hit it every once in a while.
- Low free-throw percentage – this is a problem most big men had back in the day. Remember the term “Hack-a-Shaq”? That was a tactic to prevent dominant big guys from scoring. Defenders would just foul them since they know they’re not gonna bank that charity shot.
Giannis is no doubt an extremely talented basketball player. Furthermore, his work ethic is off the charts, which makes him a great player in any era since he can adjust, adapt, and improve at ease.
The Greek Freak is already up there with great big men like Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and more.
To say that Giannis would not dominate, more so play off-the-bench is kind of ridiculous. He is known for his hard work and great ethic. In an era dominated by legendary big men, we could safely assume that Giannis would do just fine.
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