“Men Were Men Back in the Day, Charles Barkley Would Throw Your A**”: Ex-Lakers Star Bashes LeBron James and Stephen Curry Led Modern NBA

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has the entirety of the sports world talking. The two-time NBA All-Star has been suspended for at least two games by the Grizzlies following an incident where he flashed a gun on social media. Eminent media analysts and other personalities have bashed Morant for his recent controversies. Meanwhile, a former Los Angeles Lakers star has recently chimed in with his thoughts on the Ja Morant issue, while also addressing the changing values of the modern NBA led by superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

Addressing his audience on a YouTube live stream, former number one draft pick Kwame Brown drew a parallel between the stars of today and the stars who dominated the league 20 years ago. He also had some interesting opinions regarding the treatment received by Morant amid recent controversies.

Kwame Brown drags modern NBA stars into the Ja Morant debate

There have been numerous debates surrounding whether the current athletes who dominate the NBA can survive in the physical era of the 1980s and the 1990s. Arguments over the years have discussed whether LeBron James could make a case for the GOAT status had he been a part of the previous generation.

Former Laker and former No 1 draft pick Kwame Brown gave his thoughts on the issue recently. He made his debut during the 2001-02 season and was in the league till 2013. Brown has had first-hand experience playing during the transition period between the previous generation and the current generation of basketball.

While addressing the decline of the modern NBA, the former Washington Wizards star said, “I’m always advocating for the players to have a right to be a man, you can’t just label somebody as a thug. Men were men back in the day. Charles Barkley would throw your a** through a screen, through a window….Karl Malone would whoop you in a 1-on-1. A lot of men were men.”

“And for whatever reason now, they wanna make everybody into little boys,” Brown added, while voicing his opinion on the flak received by Ja Morant.

Referees nowadays are extra vigilant when it comes to fouls and other physical contacts in the game. Moreover, league executives strictly crack down on behavior deemed to be inappropriate from players. As a result, a lot of NBA veterans like Brown have criticized the modern game for it’s very soft nature over the years.

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Brown has been critical of LeBron James in the past

Over the years, LeBron James has been subjected to the harshest criticisms from media personalities and fans. One of his biggest critics of Bron happens to be Kwame Brown.

Similar to James, Brown was a no 1 draft pick who entered the NBA straight out of high school. However, their careers have spanned out very differently.

During the 2021-22 NBA season, the Lakers struggled on the court. While many bashed Russell Westbrook, Brown bashed James and criticized his defensive contribution. Moreover, he also asserted that the 38-year-old is ‘out of shape’ and a ‘liability’.

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Do you agree with Kwame Brown? Let us know in the comments down below.