Star Wars: When Retired Players Criticize Current Athletes

Former athletes take shots at today's sports stars.

Retired Athletes Take Shots at Current Sports Stars - Gary Payton recently told TMZ that today’s NBA is being dominated by the play of guards such as the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, and Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul. And although he respects their games… “The Glove,” who was known for locking down players on the defensive end as well as lighting it up on offense, said they can’t see him just yet. "When they get to my level,” the Hall of Famer said, “then they can talk to me!” Payton isn’t the first retired star to take shots at the current crop of athletes and he likely won’t be the last.(Photos from Left: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images, Cindy Ord/BET/Getty Images for BET)
Michael Jordan Takes Kobe Over LeBron - When asked whether he’d pick Kobe Bryant or LeBron James during an interview with Ahmad Rashad on NBA TV early 2013, Michael Jordan gave the nod to Bryant, saying, “If you had to pick between the two, that would be a tough choice, but five beats one every time I look at it, and not that he [LeBron James] won’t get five, he may get more than that, but five is bigger than one.” Later in the year, Jordan said he’d go with James…but only because Bryant was battling through injuries. Sounds like he made James his default pick.(Photos from Left: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
/content/dam/betcom/images/2014/03/Sports/032814-Sports-Kareem-Abdul-Jabar-Schools-Lebron-James.jpgShaquille O'Neal Disses Dwight Howard - Always opinionated and outspoken, Shaq blasted Dwight Howard for bolting Los Angeles to play for the Houston Rockets last off season. "It was expected — not everyone can handle being under the bright lights,” O’Neal told reporters while making an appearance at Daytona International in Florida last July. It was a safe move to go to a little town like Houston." He has also mentioned that Howard is “too nice” in the past. We think that Shaq jabs Dwight to reiterate that the Superman ‘S’ they both love is off limits to the younger center. Up, up, and away.(Photos from Left: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images, Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Next Gallery

12 Powerful Quotes from Black Women Athletes to Inspire Greatness

12 Photos

1 / 10

Retired Athletes Take Shots at Current Sports Stars - Gary Payton recently told TMZ that today’s NBA is being dominated by the play of guards such as the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook, and Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul. And although he respects their games… “The Glove,” who was known for locking down players on the defensive end as well as lighting it up on offense, said they can’t see him just yet. "When they get to my level,” the Hall of Famer said, “then they can talk to me!” Payton isn’t the first retired star to take shots at the current crop of athletes and he likely won’t be the last.(Photos from Left: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images, Cindy Ord/BET/Getty Images for BET)

ADVERTISEMENT