When we talk about players from earlier eras and how they can adapt to the modern NBA, we often talk about superstars. Could LeBron James play as well during the 1980s or 1990s? Could Michael Jordan dominate in the modern era? But we rarely talk about the others, such as the role players that do the dirty work. Some of these players were ahead of their time. They were good role players back in their days, and they would be even more awesome in the modern NBA.
Seven Former Role Players Who Would Thrive in the Modern NBA
Nowadays, we have players like Derrick White, Draymond Green, and Alex Caruso, who are praised for their grit. But some of the former role players could have done as well a job in the modern NBA. Let’s take a look at seven players who were probably born too early.
Boris Diaw
Boris Diaw is the ultimate born-too-early what-if type of player. When he came into the league, he was an athletic, bigger guard who eventually became a point forward/center. Diaw is the positionless basketball dream, a player who could guard 1-5 and was a high-post passing wizard.
If he had been born 15 years later, he could have been even better. He was stuck in a no man’s land during his era, but he carved a position for himself. During his Suns days, when Amar’e Stoudemire got hurt during the 2005-06 season, he came out of nowhere and had an All-Star-level season playing point center. At the time, it was rare to see, and nowadays, Nikola Jokic dominates as a point center.
Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaun Prince was a long, agile defender who could guard wings and when needed, switch onto guards. From 2004-05 to 2008-09, he was named to the All-Defensive second team in four consecutive seasons. He is a career 36.7% three-point shooter. Prince is the perfect glue guy for a contender, similar to OG Anunoby.
Toni Kukoc
Nowadays, coaches love a secondary playmaker. Toni Kukoc was that for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. He would thrive in the modern NBA as a stretch-four with a playmaking vision. He was a key member of the Bulls second three-peat.
At 6-foot-10, Kukoc is a point forward who could shoot and pass. In today’s NBA, he would be a matchup nightmare in a pace-and-space game.
Robert Horry
Some would say Robert Horry is the best role player in the history of role players. With seven championship titles on his resume, it is hard to argue against that. Horry was part of three mini dynasties, the Houston Rockets in the 1990s, the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s, and the San Antonio Spurs in the late 2000s.
His ability to space the floor, defend multiple positions, and make big shots are what makes him the ultimate role player. The younger generation should check his performance in Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals. With the series tied, he scored 21 points, including 5-6 from behind the arc, and the game-winner to give the San Antonio Spurs the lead.
Andrei Kirilenko
Andre Kirilenko is another player who was ahead of his time, similar to Diaw. A Swiss Army Knife-type of player who could defend any position, pass the ball, block shots, and score; that is a dream scenario. Think about this for a second. In the 2004-05 season, he led the league in blocks with 3.3, during an era of big men like Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal. Kirilenko did all the dirty work for the Utah Jazz teams of the 2000s. Nowadays, he would be a top-tier star role player.
Anthony Mason
The best way to describe Anthony Mason is Draymond Green before Draymond Green (minus a three-point shot). Mason was a switchable, physical defender with underrated playmaking and ball-handling abilities. He was part of the rugged New York Knicks of the 1990s. When he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets, Mason showed his ability to pass the ball, averaging 5.7, 4.2, and 4.5 assists in three seasons.
Sam Perkins
When the Los Angeles Lakers traded Sam Perkins to the Seattle Supersonics in 1993, they unlocked his shooting power. Perkins was a stretch big before stretch bigs were a common thing. He did shoot some threes during his time in LA, but it was in Seattle that he transformed into one of the best shooting big men of his generation. He could also defend in space. Put him on the Boston Celtics right now, and he might be an equal version of what they received from Kristaps Porzingis.
Photo credit: © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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