It was another “Mad Dog Wednesday” on ESPN’s First Take featuring Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo, and he was once again embroiled in debate about the National Basketball Association. He listed 20 players he feels are better than Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. to demonstrate that Brown is not worth the five-year, $295 million supermax extension for which he is now eligible.
Among the players on his list were Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving. The list left both Stephen A. Smith and JJ Redick in shock.
There has been scrutiny of Russo’s basketball acumen and analysis since he joined select editions of First Take on ESPN last year, but his latest take filled Redick with indignation. He pointed out ostensible hypocrisy behind Russo’s opinion, and it was subsequently backed up by Smith.
“You are the absolute worst,” Redick exclaimed. “The fact that you put Kawhi, Paul George and Kyrie on the list ahead of Jaylen Brown when all you do is complain about their availability? Stop it, man. I’m not debating whether or not those guys are more talented than Jaylen Brown, but Jaylen Brown plays. You can’t have it both ways, buddy.”
Indeed, the trio of Leonard, George and Irving played a combined 68.2% of potential regular season matchups in which they could have. The reasons for their inactivity varied from injury to load management to suspension, and they have all been enduring matters of concern for an extended period of time. Conversely, Brown played 67 of the Celtics’ 82 games – 81.7% availability – and was named to the All-NBA Second Team at season’s end.
“I can’t wait for your reactions when the supermax contracts kick in after the new TV deals,” Redick said, “because people are going to look back and be like, ‘Jaylen Brown at $295 [million] was a bargain.’ That’s the truth; that’s the truth. He’s 26 years old; two-time All-Star; second-team All-NBA; he’s been to five conference finals in his career. There’s no perfect player – there isn’t – and he still has room to grow both as a shooter, a playmaker [and] setting up other players, but this is the going rate for a player of his caliber.”
