‘The NBA is the worst I’ve ever seen it’

DEBATE is raging over the standard of the NBA after Stephen Curry was named the first ever unanimous MVP.

Is the NBA watered down at the moment?

EARLIER this week, Tracy McGrady made headlines when he said the NBA is “watered down” after Stephen Curry was named the first ever unanimous MVP.

But while the quotes caused quite a firestorm, one of the most prominent voices in the NBA came to McGrady’s defence today.

Charles Barkley appeared on the Dan Patrick Show and discussed a number of topics, including where he thinks Dwight Howard should go in free agency.

But when he was asked about McGrady’s comments, he didn’t hold back.

“The NBA is watered down. The NBA is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” Barkley said.

“I think we’ve got to address all these young kids coming into the NBA after one year (in college),” he said.

“The NBA is definitely watered down. I’ve been saying that for the last two or three years. The NBA is the worst I’ve ever seen it.

“I think it has something to do with all these kids we’re drafting out of high school ... now we’re drafting kids after one year of college. It drives me crazy. They have potential, but they have no idea how to play basketball. Tracy has a great point, but it’s something I’ve been saying for the last three years.”

Credit to Barkley for not only sticking up for McGrady, but also standing by the same comments he has made for years.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that this is probably one of those arguments where there’s no wrong answer.

While casual fans are tired of older players complaining about the state of the game, the simple truth is that with so many young players entering the league, it probably is more watered down as opposed to the days where college stars were playing three or four years of college basketball (which was ironically a time before McGrady ever made it to the NBA).

You also can’t blame any 19-year-old kid for leaving college after one year, when millions of dollars are on the table.

In case you missed McGrady’s comments, you can watch the clip here:

But whether you agree with the comments or not, just know one thing: As long as there are analysts on TV, these debates will never end.

No one can argue with Steph Curry’s dominance.

‘MVP OPEN TO INTERPRETATION’

LeBron James won’t debate whether Curry should be the NBA’s MVP this season. That’s indisputable.

But James might argue about how the award’s name should be defined.

One day after Curry was voted the first unanimous winner in 61 years, James, who finished third behind Curry and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard, said the honour can be interpreted in different ways.

“I think sometimes the word ‘valuable’ or best player of the year you can have different results,” said James, a four-time MVP.

“You know, that’s not taking anything from anyone that’s ever won the award.”

Curry is the 11th player in league history to be voted MVP in consecutive seasons and the first to do so since James did it in 2012 and 2013. The Warriors’ backcourt wizard is also the first guard to do it since Phoenix’s Steve Nash in 2005 and 2006.

James, who averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists during the regular season, was awed by Curry’s shooting prowess.

“Look at Steph’s numbers,” he said. “He averaged 30, he led the league in steals, he was 90-50-40 [shooting percentages from the free throw line, field and beyond the 3-point line] and they won 73 [games]. So, I don’t — do you have any debate over that, really, when it comes to that award? But when you talk about most ‘valuable’, then you can have a different conversation, so, take nothing away from him, he’s definitely deserving of that award, for sure.”

Coincidentally, James and Curry are both from Akron, Ohio. They were born in the same hospital 39 months apart.

— with AP