"They're Both White. That's The Only Thing They Have In Common" - Charles Barkley Could Not Be More Correct In How Insane It Is To Compare Austin Reaves To Larry Bird

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Listen, while it may be true that I despise anything and everything Lakers with every fiber of my being and wish nothing but the worst for them as a team/organization and their fans, I also have eyes. I am man enough to admit they are off to a great start this season (11-2 with a +8 point differential), Luka Doncic has been the clear-cut early-season MVP given what he's currently doing with his historic usage, and Austin Reaves has been playing at an All Star/3rd Team All NBA level. It makes me sick, but those are objective facts.

Now before we go on…

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Ah, much better. I can't lie, typing all of that out felt gross. I wanted to fight where my fingers were clicking on my keyboard. But credit to me for powering through and being #objective. 

Having said that, because it's the Lakers we know what comes next. People lose their goddamn minds and start saying shit that should get you sent to an insane asylum. Call it Lakers bias or Lakers delusion, who knows. But as soon as someone starts playing well, people go off the rails.

Allow Charles Barkley to explain what I mean

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Charles Barkley, right again! I don't care if Reaves was compared to Bird or if they were comparing a particular shot to Bird. Stop it. Austin Reaves is having a hell of a season, that is true. It's also true that they are nowhere close to the same galaxy as players. At some point, we need to remain on Planet Earth

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There are only a handful of players in all of NBA history that warrant being mentioned in the same breath as Larry Legend, and it sure as shit is not Austin Reaves (no disrespect, but kinda some disrespect because fuck the Lakers).

I know people like to clown on Chuck for not watching and all that stuff, but he could not have been more on the money here. You know what? This feels like the perfect time to drop my favorite video on the entire internet to help serve as a reminder of what Chuck is talking about

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I would argue that they could not be more different as players. Austin reaves can't score, pass, rebound, or defend like Larry Legend. He's not a 3x MVP and perennial 1st Team All NBA player. He hasn't made 3x All Defense or been a 2x Finals MVP let alone win 3 rings. Hell, Austin Reaves has never even been an All Star (he should make it this year)!

At some point, words have to matter. What people say, has to matter. Call me an old if you want, but to be throwing around Larry Bird's name like that is very reckless and highly disrespectful to one of the greatest players the sport of basketball has ever seen.

So I stand with Chuck. Clearly a #ballknower, and good on him for speaking out on his platform about it.