It’s a second-hand story, but the point is valid.
According to lore, shot-slinging and epically named World B. Free was tasked with guarding another team’s prime scorer. His coach went over the details pregame, then turned to Free and asked how he planned to stop the opposing player.
“Give me the ball, and I’ll foul him out,” Free purportedly responded.
That kind of get-back response from Free was predictable. From the late 1970s into the mid-1980s, Free was a rollicking scorer. He was unconcerned by the concept of defense, whether it was trying to stop him or part of his job.