Giannis Antetokounmpo may be a two-time MVP, but Charles Oakley is not quite sure he would have had the same success back in his era.
The Knicks legend recently talked about how he thinks Antetokounmpo would have fit in had he played in Oakley’s era in the 80s and 90s on a podcast with SLAM Magazine.
“He wouldn’t have been a force back in the day,” Oakley said, via NY Post. “He would have struggled, they would make him shoot jump shots. He wouldn’t be doing a Euro step to the basket, somebody’s gonna knock his head off. He’d come off the bench back in the day.”
Oakley, who played with the Bulls, Knicks, Raptors, Wizards and Rockets during his 19-year career, earned the reputation as a defensive enforcer — something hardly seen in the current NBA.
Yet, despite Oakley’s criticisms of Antetokounmpo, he admitted watching the 7-footer lead the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA title last season won him over .
“He’s doing his thing,” Oakley said. “I was skeptical because he couldn’t make a jump shot [or] free throw. After what he did last year, he done won me over.”
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram