Rick Barry slams critics of past players vs. modern NBA stars: 'What drugs are you on?' / News - Basketnews.com

Rick Barry passionately challenges modern NBA players, asserting that the legends of his era, devoid of today's luxuries and amenities, would thrive even more in the present game, emphasizing grit, skills, and an unparalleled commitment to the sport.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX Credit USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX

The passionate debate comparing past NBA superstars to those of the modern era often ignites fiery discussions.

Rick Barry, an NBA champion and Finals MVP in 1975, shared his perspective on this topic as a guest on the Joy DeAngela podcast. His response was a passionate tirade against some misconceptions and misguided notions held by present-day players.

"Please, the plumbers. You're kidding me," Barry started. "They had so many great centers back in those days. They hardly have centers. The guys that are centers now, they're not centers. They play out in the wing, trying to shoot three-point shots. They don't block shots. They don't protect the rim. It's a different game. People don't understand.

"People said, 'Rick, you wouldn't be able to play with these guys today.' I say well, 'What drugs are you on? Because you got a problem.' Because if you really understood the game, and you knew what the difference was between what we do and the guys playing here, we had nothing to help us," he continued.

"I didn't have a dietician. I didn't have an agility coach. I didn't travel on chartered planes so 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. We had $8 per diem.

"These guys get chartered food on the 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 would be faster, and I was pretty fast. I would be faster, stronger, quicker, more endurance, and jump higher. I would be a much better basketball player because I had none of those things. It's absolutely crazy how much better the guys I played with, the Oscar Robertsons, the Jerry Wests, all of us would be even greater," Barry finished his rant.

Barry's illustrious career commenced in 1965 with the then-San Francisco Warriors, where he was a standout first-round selection (second overall). He etched his name in history as one of the most prolific scorers in the league, amassing 25,275 career points without the aid of a three-point field goal.

As an eight-time All-Star, Barry orchestrated the Warriors' triumphant ascent to their inaugural championship in 1975. His leadership propelled Golden State to a flawless 4-0 victory over the Washington Bullets. He averaged 29.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 steals during that series.

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