Jared Dudley, right, shown with the Clippers in 2013, dinged the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony for not making his teammates better. (Danny Moloshok/Associated Press)
Jared Dudley spent much of Wednesday in Bristol, Conn., making the rounds on various ESPN shows. Apparently, by the time the Bucks forward was done with “Mike & Mike” and “SportsCenter,” he was pretty well loosened up, because he really let loose on Colin Cowherd’s show.
Dudley has just a 1.5 assists-per-game average over eight NBA seasons, so he might not be the best at dishing the rock, but dishing the dirt proved no issue. He spoke more than freely about the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Love and James Harden, and when Cowherd asked about the most overrated player in the NBA, Dudley had no trouble providing an answer: Carmelo Anthony.
The Knicks star is viewed around the league “as a top-five player,” Dudley said, but “he’s got to make guys better, and defensively, he’s got to take the next level up.” Anthony has also “gotta get out” of the first or second round of the playoffs or at least make it to the postseason, according to the Buck, who claimed that LeBron James would have helped this year’s Knicks, who finished with the second-worst record in the NBA at 17-65, become at least the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Dudley later also proved more than willing to take on Twitter critics of his commentary:
RT @SteelzKitchen: @JaredDudley619 I've seen melo cook you bro .. ( he def has.. No one said melo not good.. )
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 27, 2015
Dudley had kicked off his straight-talking segment with an analysis of Bryant, who he said “wants to show everyone so much” that he can still dominate games, rather than acknowledge his fading skills. Dudley claimed Bryant’s refusal to take a secondary role is “why most guys don’t want to play with” the Lakers guard.
RT @kingjazz24: U don't wanna play with Kobe cuz ur not a true winner! ( I would play with him! Most stars wouldn't taking less $ and shots)
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 27, 2015
Ok Kobe fans listen to the interview. I said Kobe one of the greats! I'm laughing about his shot attempts . Most people not taking less $
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 27, 2015
As for rumors about Love going to the Lakers in the offseason as a free agent, Dudley expressed doubt that it would happen. He said that Love would be foolish to leave the Cavs and James, “the most unselfish superstar we have,” especially with so much opportunity for team success in the watered-down East.
When dealing with Superstars they have egos that have to be stroke! That's why you hear about Kevin love leaving. Role players don't care
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 27, 2015
Dudley did have high praise for Harden, taking issue with Cowherd’s lack of enthusiasm for the Rockets guard. Dudley said “players have the utmost respect for” Harden, who “gets his shooters involved, even though he shoots the ball a lot.” The forward did manage to slip in a dig at Harden’s teammate Josh Smith, who “likes to jack those threes.”
Zach Randolph also came in for praise, when Cowherd asked for the NBA’s most underrated player: “20 and 10, career,” was Dudley’s summation of the rugged Grizzlies forward.
That led to the question about who was the most overrated, and more uninhibited talk about NBA colleagues. At 29, and with some useful skills (assists average notwithstanding), Dudley figures to have a few more years left in pro basketball, but he left little doubt that when he leaves the game, there will be an analyst’s job waiting.
Here is video of the Cowherd segment:
(H/T Sports Grid)
