Former Duke Blue Devils and NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick has done a pretty nice job changing careers following his retirement.
Redick is now a part of the new media movement, which pits many former and current NBA players analyzing the game of basketball.
As one of ESPN’s new media faces Redick isn’t afraid to give a strong opinion that is outlandish at times. But hot takes drive these talk shows.
During a May segment on “First Take,” Redick was in the debate hot seat versus Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. While discussing the worthiness of players on the all-time list, Redick degraded the résumé of former Celtics legend Bob Cousy, saying, “Cousy was being guarded by plumbers and firemen.”
That comment didn’t sit too well with Cousy who won six titles and an NBA MVP during the Celtics dynasty.
“I guess [Wilt Chamberlain] must have fought fires as well”
NBA legend Bob Cousy reacts to J.J. Redick’s comments about Cousy playing against “plumbers and firemen” with @termineradio and @jumpshot8 pic.twitter.com/D4x9TVmvlD
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 19, 2022
But Cooz isn’t the only one taking Redick’s comments to task, as the NBA logo Jerry West recently chimed in with his take.
During an appearance on Sirius XM Radio, the Lakers legend had a lot to say about Redick as a player.
West Questions Redick’s All-Around Skill Set
West comments talk about Redick being a one-trick pony, unlike Cooz, who affected the game in multiple ways.
“Obviously the game is completely different. The athletes are completely different. I know J.J. a little bit, a very smart kid and everything — but tell me what his career looked like. What did he do that determined games? He averaged, what, 12 points a game in the league.”
"Tell me what his career looked like. What did he do that determined games? He averaged 12 points a game in the league."
–– Jerry West responds to J.J. Redick's (@jj_redick) Bob Cousy playing against “plumbers and firemen” comments
(🎥: @SiriusXMNBA) pic.twitter.com/RCVi4i8yUC
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 23, 2022
The logo wasn’t done …
“J.J. certainly wasn’t gonna guard the elite players. And so can nitpick anyone. The only reason I’m talking about him is he was not an elite player. He was a very good player. But he had a place on a team because of his ability to shoot the ball.”
“I was an athlete before my time. I had a huge vertical. Probably nobody in the league was much faster than me. Certainly, the competitive part of it, I would put myself amongst any player who played the game today also. Winning is all that mattered. That’s what drove me.
“JJ should be very thankful that he’s made as much money as he made. Bob Cousy, who I played against a couple years … I just think it’s very disrespectful, myself.”
JJ Redick on Bob Cousy’s 28-assist NBA game in 1959:
“Bob Cousy was being guarded by plumbers and firemen.”
💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/ApJTuX6Tip
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 20, 2022
West is correct, and it’s actually funny to hear guys like Redick, Kendrick Perkins, others throw shade at guys from other eras. In fact, most of the guys they tend to call out were better players individually than them.
Many All-Time Greats Played In Cousy’s Era
Elite players like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson and the aforementioned West, plus many others played in Cooz’s era. So for Redick to speak that was disrespectful and he deserved to be taken to task for those ignorant comments.
