"Stream these guys. Sit there and watch old clips" - Carmelo Anthony on how today's players can realize past NBA eras actually deserve respect

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"Stream these guys. Sit there and watch old clips" - Carmelo Anthony on how today's players can realize past NBA eras actually deserve respect originally appeared on Basketball Network.
During a recent episode of Carmelo Anthony's "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast, the roundtable — featuring co-hosts The Kid Mero, Kazeem Famuyide, Rudy Gay and guest DeMar DeRozan — dug into one of the NBA's pressing undercurrents: the widening generational divide.
The conversation cut through the usual chatter, focusing on how few younger players truly engage with the game's legends. Several strong points emerged, but one made by Anthony stood out.
The growing generational disrespect
Generational tension in the NBA isn't new, but it's gotten noticeably louder in recent years. Two moments illustrate the shift.
In April 2022, JJ Redick — now head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers — stirred controversy by dismissing earlier eras, claiming the league was full of plumbers and firemen.
Then, in August 2024, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards added fuel to the fire, saying that in the 1990s, nobody but basketball icon Michael Jordan had skill.
While not as controversial as the aforementioned examples, Famuyide noted on "7PM in Brooklyn" that he often sees young players watch clips of all-time greats — like Chris Webber or Patrick Ewing — with no idea who they're actually looking at.
DeRozan, soon heading into his second season with the Sacramento Kings, didn't hold back on how that sits with him.
"That makes me mad," the 35-year-old said. "Like, that s— pisses me off."
It's easy to understand that frustration. After all, as DeRozan explained on the episode, he took pride in knowing the game's history and said he'd never disrespect the eras that came before him — because of everything they taught him.
"I take everything off these old motherfu—s, everything," said the six-time NBA All-Star.Respect the past
You can see it clearly on the hardwood — DeRozan doesn't just respect the old generation, he actively uses their skills in his game. For instance, during the candid discussion, the roundtable highlighted how similar his footwork and mid-range shooting are to those of the legendary Kobe Bryant.
After studying and even training with Kobe early in his career, DeMar has made those skills his trademark. Reflecting on that, Carmelo can't understand why more young players don't follow suit.
The 2013 scoring champion pointed to how often the new wave spends time on their phones, mostly streaming content. His advice? Use that time wisely by streaming compilations of NBA greats.
"All they have to do is go on there and do their own research. Stream the highlights. Stream Pat [Ewing], stream Mitch Richmond. Like, stream these guys. Sit there and watch old clips and do the same s— you would do if you were streaming anything else," said Anthony.
The soon-to-be Hall of Famer said their perspective "would be a lot different."
By first engaging with past eras and then adopting what made those old-school legends great, many of today's players would quickly realize that past NBA eras actually deserve the opposite of disrespect.
Sure, the game has evolved — and Anthony admitted that highlights of players from the NBA's early days, like Bob Cousy, might not be the best teaching tool today — but there are still countless players to learn from. Ewing and Richmond, whom he mentioned, are certainly a good place to start.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.