Not every NBA player is remembered by future generations; some retired stars know that firsthand as they are frequently overlooked in contemporary basketball discourse. The players usually ignore what is said, but they are occasionally influenced by it.
Some players struggled with not being as famous as before, but that was not a problem for Milwaukee Bucks legend Sidney Moncrief . He know once he retired from the NBA, some would struggle, but Moncrief was unbothered.
"Well, you have to understand that even back when we played, we were probably limited in the respect and reverence that we showed our predecessors. You can't know everyone. Players come and go," Moncrief said to HoopsHype. "So even though I'm a five-time NBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year – which is a status that 95 percent of players in the NBA right now will never get to – it doesn't mean today's players should know who I am."
Older NBA players should learn from Moncrief
What Sid said is admirable because older players get disrespected and discredited. However, they should understand that people have inherent biases and will always love to discuss the modern era. It is best to educate those people, but former players should not argue with them because it could lead to some toxic discourse.
An example is when JJ Redick brought up players from the 1950s and called them plumbers and firemen . It led to some of the most toxic discourse in basketball, including reactions from NBA legends like Jerry West and Bob Pettit.
If it were up to Moncrief, he would just let that pass. Of course, it is understandable that players feel disrespected and respond. Still, other people would have called out Redick without needing some of the older players.
Related: "Not every night, though" - Larry Bird recalls the other moment he told Magic Johnson that Michael Jordan was the greatest
The NBA keeps moving forward
Moncrief wants more players to be open to progress. When he joined the league in 1979, some players welcomed him into the NBA and helped him learn more about its history. However, some bitter players were in people's ears about how the previous era was better.
It is a cycle that won't stop until more players are open to learning more about the history. Thankfully, Sidney does not have any problems with the modern players because, in his experiences, everyone has been respectful.
"I see today's players as very respectful. I really do. And now, with today's technology, if they see a guy or hear a guy's name, they can pull out their phone really quick and look them up," Moncrief continued. "But I think it's unfair for us to hold today's players to a standard where we expect them to meet us former players and know all about us on the spot."
The former Defensive Player of the Year has a healthy mindset because he knows today's players are different, and they do not want to be forced into liking the previous era. Hopefully, the younger players will learn more about history, but it is best to respect what the previous eras did for the sport.
Related: Sidney Moncrief on how Don Nelson started the big-man shooter movement: "He would do whatever he needed to gain an advantage"
Local News
