JJ Redick puts the “old man” in The Old Man and the Three.
The ESPN analyst recently aired a major grievance about the NBA All-Star Game that may be shared among the older generation of basketball fans.
After Sunday’s offensive slugfest, some fans complained about the lack of competitiveness in the game, which featured the highest score total in NBA history (397).
Redick, however, had a very different bone to pick.
In the latest episode of his podcast, The Old Man and the Three, the 15-year NBA veteran went off on the game’s lack of punctuality in a 30-second rant.
“Why can’t we start anything on time in the NBA,” Redick said on Monday. “Why can’t we? I’m going to sound like an old person here. If it says 8:00, I don’t want it to tip-off at 8:42.”
I’m the old man yelling at a cloud https://t.co/zsYv4H5REN
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) February 19, 2024
The All-Star Game’s scheduled tip-off time was 8:00 p.m. ET, but the game actually started closer to 9:00 p.m. ET. Hence, Redick’s frustration.
Redick continued, “I’ve already told my kids they can watch the first quarter. It’s a Sunday night. Guess what, they’ve stayed up late like four straight nights because nothing starts on time in the NBA, and it’s driving me crazy. And I work for a broadcast partner. Can we please just start things on time in the NBA? It’s out of control. It’s absolutely out of control.”
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo may be one to snap his fingers for Redick's impassioned tirade. Mics caught a pregame conversation he had with teammate Damian Lillard about how they were the “oldest ones” on the court, though Lillard showed no signs of age in his 39-point MVP-winning performance over the weekend.
Here’s what the general NBA community thought about Redick’s comical “old man” take.
I say this every single time I’m waiting on an nba event to start. It’s ridiculous
— T (@preppy_king) February 19, 2024
Every fan agrees with you. Only league where this is an issue
— Play In SZN (@1CE_TRAE) February 19, 2024
I agree. 7:30 tip-offs have been at 7:41 for years
— Mike (@Mike_NYY) February 19, 2024
THANK YOU I’m 23 and I relate. All the other sports are so good about it; if a college basketball game, baseball game or football game says that a game starts at 7:05, it always starts at 7:05 (unless weather or other circumstances outside of their control arise of course).
— drew (@wesmatthewsfan) February 19, 2024
They just need to be honest
— Missus Fiji Agua (@__ricabee) February 19, 2024
Broadcast starts at 8
Tip off at 8:45.
Doesn't change how late it starts, but ppl can plan around it better.
You have very reasonable expectations, old man.
— Lance Smith (@lsmithdesign) February 19, 2024
— Rob Niday (@NidayRob) February 19, 2024
— Blackchi (@halfaznguy) February 19, 2024