Uncle Drew and perceptive judgement
Uncle Drew comically poked at elderly folk kicking youngster butt. Yet it is that false perception and ironic trope that dismantles judging a book by its cover.
What is more relevant is the obvious belittlement of the elderly. It is not necessarily done maliciously but more to realistic standards. Everyone of the youngsters knows an elderly individual who is immobile. Most old people are incapable of playing intense sports. The onlooker laughs in exaggerated anticipation. There is no way they can pull this off. Once they do, it is this otherworldly event that must be cheered. Clowning those who lie to these folk. How can you lose to an old person. It is their age not their skill that is focused upon. Generalised consensus of elderly capability is projected despite the evident outlier dominating the basketball court. Age should have nothing to do with stand yet it does. No outlier is manifested due to the accepted claim that elderly individuals cannot do this. Instead of praising the unique effort the opponent is shamed for failing to stop the inferior old person. The self accepted identity of an inferior elder demeans their capability.
Youngsters in pinnacle shape are perceived as the superior individuals. If they lose they must have thrown the game. Brian Scalabrine a former NBA player opened an invitation to play against challengers who thought they could take down the lacklustre former player. He destroyed them. The talent difference was immense. There is a story of a former all-star named OJ Mayo who trashed talked Jordan back in high school at his camp. The elderly Jordan cleared the gym and defeated Mayo easily. The difference in skill is clear despite age. Injuries may hinder peak talent but it cannot erase it. The old folk tearing the young folk was a matter of skill. The only reason the youth had a chance was due to their advanced age and injured limitations. Even if the latter win, it is not a matter of better but luckier. Though body shape and mobility is part of the total package. Cannot play effectively if the body is immobile. Still, if the elderly can motivate their bodies they may be able to be as deadly.
It is an underdog story only because of their advanced age and physical limitations. Had the youngsters played them in their prime they would be defeated easily. It is a matter of timing that the youth have an edge. Their skill is mediocre compared to their elders. The underdog is the aged skilfully superior. Mobility is still a necessary factor. Giannis Antetokounmpo has two MVP’s but if not for his height he would not be as dominate. His height combined with his athleticism gives him an incredible advantage. His genetics with a strong workout make him a good ball player. Though his skill level is mild, if he wasn't blessed he may have worked on his shooting. Yet given his current frame, it is his body not so much his basketball intangibles that give him an edge on the court. Stephen Curry has skill dribbling the basketball passing and the best shooter. His MVP’s are based on his skill not so much his athleticism. He is short and thus must focus on skills. The basketball hoop is ten feet and one must throw the ball in the hoop. This gives tall people an advantage. There have only been a select few players under six feet and even fewer who actually succeeded. The youngsters do not need skill insofar as they need only outmatch athletically.
It is their skill they must rely on. Similar to the short player, they must demonstrate their secret skill. For Curry that was shooting three pointers efficiently. Finding ways to succeed in a big man’s game. While mobility is a necessary factor to effectively play, it is their preserved lack that undermines their greatness. It runs the same theme as White Man Can’t Jump. Woody Harrelson is a white man and being so he must be un-athletic and a poor player. The movie points to Wesley Snipes’s initial rejection and gradual respect. The movie is identical to a story told of Larry Bird. His teammate Cedric Maxwell trash talked him and was stunned at Larry’s privileges in practice despite his white lanky frame. Making fun to his fellow teammates. Larry kicked Maxwell’s butt up and down the court. Larry’s appearance in a growing Black league saw white players as inferior. Black quarterbacks have received similar stigmas. Appearance garners a conclusion of a perceived fact.
One of the most common polemics against old players is that they were plumbers. It began with Wilt playing a bunch of plumbers to Magic playing a bunch of plumbers to Jordan playing a bunch of plumbers. The near athletic superiority is regulated by medical advancements but such an accusation is false. Players may be better because they have more access and more conditioning yet this does entail that Embid would destroy Shaq, Hakeem, Moses or Wilt. The same goes for other positional players. It is also important to point out rule changes whether concerning dribbling or hand-checking that have altered the game and eased the offensive burden. The game was not only physically tougher foul-wise but also mobility wise. Cousy and plumbers could probably take many modern players as well. There may be a larger variety of better players but contextually players had the same ability. Even if they were plumbers, so is Wilt or Jordan. LeBron or Kobe may dominate the past like they did the present but it would not be any more given the inherent limitations. What makes greats great is how they beat their competition with the tools they had not what they could have had.
Watching videos from the 60s and 70s do seem talentless individuals. Their shooting was much less capable to an extent. Yet it is clear that watching film of older games there was a stronger emphasis on offensive uniformity. Meaning that the current travelling and multi-flopping sequences have only magnified the offensive outtake. Yet in the former era that was not allowed. Refs were content with calling fouls on the offence quite often. Watching an old game seems as if they are way worse but the rules made their game difficult. It is true that their talent was probably inferior but the rules did give their contemporary counterparts a grand advantage. Able to gain space with extra steps advanced carrying and phantom fouling only fuels more points. It is not only the three point induction but also the ability to get away with defensive obscurity. Officiation has evolved to favour the offence for audience attraction among other agendas. There are better support systems but it is evident that players back then were handicapped in ways that in today’s game they are liberated. Variables are key to differentiating the times.
A grave irony, is the explosion of un-athletic European superstars. Luke and Jokic have taken the league by storm. Especially Jokic in his back to back MVPs, recent championship and finals MVP. Both have been attacked for their lacklustre athletic capability and yet they have dominated extensively for the previous years and years to come. Grilled by media and fans for their style of play as well as their build demonstrates a dispelled myth. Joker is one of those critiqued plumbers. Yet he is the best player in the league. His apparent unorthodox style is the new faltering myth. Narration claims athleticism is the key piece. A certain look and a certain ability is the correct method. Jokic is doing the opposite. He is racking up stats but his mere team orientation. Sometimes it’s rules and not athleticism. Weather dribbling travelling or foul calls. It is about skill and he is proving it despite the uniqueness. His style of play is rebuked for its unorthodoxy but is tremendously valuable as a credible alternative to the positivist narrative.
Surface level deductions are usually wrong. Old means immobile. Exceptions to the rule are varied but yet are then championed as an aspiring hitch. The internal ability lying beneath the surface level perception is the totality of the individual. Eyes are tricky. Drawing conclusions from sight loses the subsequent personification. Stunned from the elder performance is due to the locked in conclusion. The deduction was sealed as an expectation. Yet the elder’s performance brought awe to the unexpected turn of events. It is a mistake to decide too soon. Seeing at face value is not all it’s cooked up to be. There is a deeper layer waiting to be unveiled. Do not judge nor think due to an appearance that is the whole story. Stay away from generalised content. Don’t let appearances fool, always be aware of a deeper layer.
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