Lakers Legend SLAMS ESPN Analyst JJ Redick for Larry Bird Slander

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Recently, ESPN's JJ Redick made comments on Larry Bird & Steph Curry that had NBA legends and legacy fans up in arms- how dare this young mad take Larry Bird's name in vein?

What JJ said told Stephen A. Smith and Chris "Maddog" Russo, "When I watch, let’s say Steph Curry, for example," Redick continued, "When I watch Steph Curry off the ball in a playoff game getting grabbed and held by Marcus Smart, they’re attached to him at all times."

On the day of his retirement from the Boston Celtics, when asked by reporters, Bird replied that Michael Cooper of the Los Angeles Lakers' was his most formidable opponent. Larry Bird said, "The best defender I ever faced was definitely Michael Cooper."

https://youtube.com/shorts/_WFrRmr7kMQ?feature=share




Considering Larry Bird's rare praise of an opponent, it's understandable that the always polite and mild mannered defensive legend, would take some offense to these thoughtless statements by Redick. "Coop" didn't just get pissed off but, after Dominque Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks called JJ's statements to be "idiotic," Bob Ryan of Goodman Ryan Tanguay Podcast questioned Redick's basketball IQ, Nick Gelso, founder of CLNS, went on an extra-ordinary BoomerRANT, the 8x All-Defense and the league's original "3 and D" player felt VERY talkative on the matter.

Mad Dog & JJ Reddick. This is gonna be a classic

[: ESPN/youtube] pic.twitter.com/PprjLkPzkQ

— SplashBrosMuse (@SplashBrosMuse) February 15, 2023

Cooper was overseas when the ESPN aired the First Take segment and didn't even know what was said until he returned late on Friday, February 25th, 1 week after the original airing of the ESPN segment, he immediately reached out CLNS to get his thoughts on record.

Recorded and released on Sunday that weekend, Cooper, in very uncharacteristic fashion, ranted on about the defensive physicality of the 1980's, his experiences guarding Larry-Legend and he event went on to aim a harsh statement to Redick saying, "if you had played during the 80's I'd have locked you up!" among other remarks in defense of Bird and the 1980's players.

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