92-97 John Starks vs 2015-22 Klay Thompson

[penbeast0]

Nah, I've been hearing that kind of slanderous talk even toward '80s and '90s players lately, and especially the latter. Basically, everyone in the '90s was a plumber unless they played in Chicago.

Yes, I've heard it once or twice too; I used to warn the MJ fanboys it would happen to their guy someday. Can't see Barkley as a plumber though, wouldn't fit under the sink.

[70sFan]

It's also worth noting that Jeff Hornacek and Hersey Hawkins are ahead of Klay in all the major advanced metrics and Dan Majerle is ahead of Klay in everything except PER

But all those guys (and Hornacek in particular) are regarded as "bums", "milkmen" and "plumbers". Meanwhile, Klay is classified as a superstar.

I think you have the milkmen and plumbers line wrong. Hornacek, Hawkins, and Majerle played contemporaneously with MJ or Kobe so they must be real NBA players. It's everyone before Bird and Magic entered the league that's classified as incapable of playing in the modern NBA.

Nah, I've been hearing that kind of slanderous talk even toward '80s and '90s players lately, and especially the latter. Basically, everyone in the '90s was a plumber unless they played in Chicago.

Welcome to this world. It's the same thing that happened to the 1960s players before.

[Ron Swanson]

I think it's a pretty solid comp. Not stylistically but more in the sense of impact. Starks was the better defender and could obviously do more off the dribble, whether it be scoring or play-making. I've always found Klay's defense kinda overrated, but then I'd say he's also probably a little bit underrated as an offensive player and specifically his off-ball gravity (Steph gets all the credit but I would have loved to see Klay in a more offensive primacy role ala Reggie, Rip Hamilton, etc.). Really tough to pick who I'd prefer and even though I hate defaulting to it, it really does depend on the rest of your roster.

[oaktownwarriors87]

Klay is a much safer bet, but they are very different players.

[tsherkin]

Meanwhile, Klay is classified as a superstar.

No one says this.

I think you have the milkmen and plumbers line wrong. Hornacek, Hawkins, and Majerle played contemporaneously with MJ or Kobe so they must be real NBA players. It's everyone before Bird and Magic entered the league that's classified as incapable of playing in the modern NBA.

Nah, I've been hearing that kind of slanderous talk even toward '80s and '90s players lately, and especially the latter. Basically, everyone in the '90s was a plumber unless they played in Chicago.

Welcome to this world. It's the same thing that happened to the 1960s players before.

There is truth to the idea that there is more size and athleticism in the league now. Whether that means the older guys could or couldn't stick is case by case. There IS a point at which you draw the line, but it is a permeable barrier. Like, I don't see any reason someone like Sam Jones couldn't learn to shoot fewer middies and learn how to knock down some corner 3s. Decent size, decent athleticism, good shooter, focused on the shots of emphasis in his time. But there are definitely dudes who would struggle moved forward in time. And that happens in all eras, and won't really stop. Some are able to adapt, some aren't. And some guys were victims of their own time for reasons like health, or travel methods, or crappier rims, etc.

[SHAQ32]

I think it speaks to the opposite, actually. That Starks edges Klay out in VORP, BPM, WS, and WS/48, yet doesn't have nearly the accolades. It's kind of like the Reggie Miller situation. The impact far outweighs the acknowledgment.

It's also worth noting that Jeff Hornacek and Hersey Hawkins are ahead of Klay in all the major advanced metrics and Dan Majerle is ahead of Klay in everything except PER

But all those guys (and Hornacek in particular) are regarded as "bums", "milkmen" and "plumbers". Meanwhile, Klay is classified as a superstar.

Owned.