Etymology

plumbers and firemen

Today it means: A notional inferior level of competition that allowed past champions to excel. Full definition →

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The story

Originated from a exchange in a 2022 episode of First Take. In response to a remark that Bob Cousy once had 29 assists in a game, JJ Redick responded, "well, he was being guarded by plumbers and firemen".

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.