In a recent appearance on the Podcast P show, NBA veteran DeMar DeRozan gave his thoughts on recent comments made by Anthony Edwards. DeRozan denounced the statement and condemned Edwards for disrespecting those who came before him.
“I was trying to understand where he was coming from. But I know from my point of view, I would never discredit or undermine anybody who came before me,” said DeRozan. “I feel like everybody had their own skill, just because it wasn’t to a Michael Jordan level, don’t discredit it.”
Anthony Edwards, 23, is a budding star for the Minnesota Timberwolves. With averages of 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 46.1% shooting, Edwards led the Timberwolves to the West Finals before being eliminated from the playoffs.
During the offseason, Edwards was under fire for some comments he made regarding 90s basketball. According to Ant, Michael Jordan was the only truly skilled player back in the day and it wasn’t until Kobe Bryant stepped into the spotlight that someone was able to match his skill level. While Edwards might have meant it as a compliment to Michael, many fans and players didn’t appreciate the lack of respect he afforded the OG legend of the game.
While it’s true that the NBA has gotten more skilled over the years, the thought that Jordan was the only skilled player in his day is highly debatable. In that time, the NBA was a very different game and players made themselves effective in more ways than one. In the 90s alone, several NBA superstars challenged the Bulls legend, including Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
While they were not shooters or magnificent ball handlers like we see today, those players could dominate on both ends of the floor and lead their teams with ruthless efficiency. They did the best that they could during their time and deserve to be recognized for their talents.
So, after Edwards, disgraceful comments, it’s no surprise that several experts and players (both former and current) have come out to defend old-school basketball. From Ron Harper to Isiah Thomas, several prominent NBA athletes have spoken out against Edwards’ statement and have called on him to apologize for disrespecting some of the game’s greatest legends.
DeMar DeRozan is the latest one to take issue with Edwards’ take and he’s made it perfectly clear why so many people have a problem with what he said. For someone so young and unaccomplished, Anthony Edwards is just not in a place where he can speak like that about those who have accomplished so much more than him.
This upcoming season with the Timberwolves will be a chance for Edwards to validate his opinions and prove that he’s the next one in line to take over as the face of NBA basketball. But until he wins a title with the Timberwolves, or at least makes a case for being the NBA’s best player, he’ll always be a tier below the NBA legends like Magic, Bird, and Thomas, and he’ll always have people questioning if his game matches up with his ultra-high confidence.
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