Kevin Loughery played for the Baltimore Bullets and later coached the then-Washington Bullets, part of 25 consecutive and 28 total years in the NBA and ABA from 1962-94.
And almost 30 years after his final job as Heat coach ended, he told the Sports Junkies that the NBA is a MUCH different game now from even then, let alone his heyday, thanks to one change.
“I spent three years in the ABA and that’s where the three-point shot came from – Red Auerbach told me it would never be a factor in the NBA, but I think it’s actually hurt the game,” Loughery said. “The last game I had in the ABA, I think we had two three-pointers taken. Now, the entire game plan is based on three-point shots, and that’s why I think Miami can easily beat Boston; every player they use outside of Bam Adebayo can make a three-point shot, and when they’re open, you think they’re gonna make them.”
There’s a lot that has changed over the years – Loughery, for instance, noted that he didn’t have an assistant when he was named player/coach in Philly in 1973, but now, ‘there are more suits on the bench than uniforms.’
Loughery also waxed poetic about coaching young Michael Jordan, and that’s when talk turned to LeBron James, who, at age 38, is trying to will the Lakers to the finals, which would be his 11th and possibly his fifth ring – but may be finally running out of steam.
“The toughest thing for any organization or coach is to have very good to great players that are slipping, because the players never realize they’re not as good as they used to be,” Loughery said. “That’s a tough assignment. They don’t practice as hard, and don’t realize when they’re full-tilt that they can’t do some things they used to be able to anymore.”
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Whether or not LeBron wins a fifth or even sixth ring like MJ did, he’ll always be in the GOAT conversation – but there’s no way you can compare LBJ and MJ in Loughery’s eyes.
“It’s hard to compare them because of the eras they played in, because it’s a different game,” Loughery said. “If Michael was playing with wide-open floors and nobody in the post, he’d score anytime he wanted to. It’s a different era, and for me I’m prejudiced towards MJ, but two great players.”
Listen to the entire interview above!
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