WiggOuts wrote:Black Jack wrote:NBA retirees have way too much bad to say about current players. You don't hear Tom Brady or Ken Griffey Jr or somebody like that whining about guys playing today anywhere near the amount HoF level NBA players do.
It's become ridiculous and honestly jealousy seems to be the real issue.
There's no other sport where retirees are so convinced their era was better. get real.
I think none of these old timers want to admit it, you hear the odd person come out and say it here and there but I think there's TONS of jealousy surrounding how much these guys make. Nowadays you have average players signing contracts that some of these old guys have barely made over their entire CAREERS. I bet its hard for these guys not to feel a ways and it trickles down through their subconscious
I actually think this issue stems from a MUCH MORE deep seeded issue than just money. And it's something to do more with the NBA culture itself and how it caters SO MUCH to individualism than any other sport.
1.
The NBA’s Culture of IndividualismBasketball is arguably the most individual-focused team sport. Players are the brand. Fans know faces, not helmets (NFL) or caps (MLB). Retired stars often feel their legacy is being rewritten when new players rack up stats or media hype. This naturally breeds comparisons, and older players often feel slighted or forgotten.
Think of it like this: In football, Tom Brady is a GOAT, but no one says he, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, etc make Joe Montana irrelevant. In the NBA? Steph Curry’s success often gets framed as diminishing the achievements of a player like Allen Iverson.
2.
24/7 Sports Media & Hot-Take CultureModern NBA coverage is relentless. And often centered around GOAT debates, stats, and drama. Retired players are constantly asked to weigh in on LeBron vs. MJ, or how today’s game compares to the past. The media provokes these takes because they go viral (like this thread for example), and ex-players are often expected to "defend their era."
Other sports legends (like in MLB or NFL) just aren't put under this kind of constant scrutiny and pressure to rank and compare.
3.
The Game Has Changed More DramaticallyThe NBA game today is radically different from what it was even 15 years ago. 3 point revolution, no post play, little midrange, less physicality. Older players often feel the game is softer, less skilled in traditional ways, or "not real basketball."
When Shaq sees stretch-5s and 7-footers shooting threes, it just doesn’t align with what dominated in his day.
4.
Prominent Retired Players Stay Loud & RelevantIn the NBA, many former stars become commentators and influencers: Barkley, Shaq, KG, Draymond (soon), etc. Their job is to entertain, and criticism draws attention. The NBA embraces this "barbershop talk" culture. Which fuels generational beefs.
Basically it's this: Football is too team-structured, and positions are too diverse for legacy debates to dominate.
Baseball changes slower, and its culture is more reverent of past stats (and obsessed with history).
Soccer legends often work within the system or clubs, and legacy debates are more localized (Messi vs. Maradona isn't on every week on ESPN).