Anthony Edwards landed himself in hot water in 2024 when he claimed that Michael Jordan was the only skilled player of his era. Magic Johnson was one of many to blast Edwards for his disrespectful comments at the time and he was asked about calling out the Minnesota Timberwolves star on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast.
“This summer (he says), ‘Oh, ain’t nobody athletic ever been in the league, and then nobody could jump and all this.’ I’m like whoa whoa whoa what are you talking about? Don’t attack all the old-school guys when you haven’t done your homework,” Johnson said. “First of all, there have been athletic guys.
“First of all, Michael Jordan,” Johnson continued. “Dr. J (Julius Erving), Kobe (Bryant), Clyde Drexler. I can keep going. Lot of guys, David Thompson even before all of them, could walk in the air. And so bro, you slow down. So, I had to just hit him like, ‘Look man, talk to me when you won something.”
Johnson had ruthlessly stated at the time that he wouldn’t respond to a guy who hadn’t won a championship. He bluntly pointed out that Edwards hadn’t even won a title in college and wondered if he’d done so at the high school level.
Johnson went off on Edwards again later that year. He told him to focus on beating the great teams in the NBA and not talk about what was happening before he was even born.
“I don’t want to ever go at nobody,” Johnson added. “That’s not who I am but if you going to attack us like, ‘Oh you know the game was not high flying and as exciting’ and so on and on then I got to come back so but I’m still a fan and I still watch him because I love his attitude, I love his smile.”
Johnson loves Edwards’ game and personality but he had to let him know when he was in the wrong. Edwards certainly did go overboard with those comments. No one would have said anything if he had stated that today’s players are more skilled than those who played 30 to 40 years ago. He might have ruffled some feathers, but that’s it.
When you say, though, that only one player had any sort of skill back in the day, you’re asking to get blasted and that’s what happened. Edwards has wisely said nothing else along those lines since and you’d wish he thought twice before opening his mouth. He has shot himself in the foot with his comments from time to time and needs to be more careful moving forward.
As for Edwards’ quest to win a championship, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen this year. The Timberwolves have a 40-30 record in 2024-25 and are down at seventh in the West. They have shown signs of life recently, but a title run seems unlikely.
Edwards, who is averaging 27.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game this season, would back himself to elevate his team come playoffs, though. It will be interesting to see if the 23-year-old can repeat his heroics from last year and further solidify himself as one of the very best in the business.
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