Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas fire back at Anthony Edwards over criticism of older generation
Anthony Edwards has opinions about the generations of players before he was born. Magic Johnson doesn’t think Edwards has the credentials to warrant a comment. Isiah Thomas has his own thoughts, and thus the recipe for offseason NBA beef is born.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Released last week, Edwards offered a slew of answers that bolstered his self-assured reputation. Is there anything you’re bad at? I haven’t found it yet, he said. Favorite Olympic moment? Dunking on Kevin Durant in practice.
And what about the current generation of basketball players? Is it different from the older generations?
“I didn’t watch it at the time, so I can’t say anything,” said Edwards, who was born in 2001. “They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had talent back then. (Michael Jordan) was the only one who really had talent, you know what I mean? So when they saw Kobe (Bryant), they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has talent.”
Johnson didn’t appreciate that squeaking.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend, who won five titles in the 1980s, told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that Edwards needs a ring of his own before he can make such claims.
“I never comment on a guy who’s never won a championship,” Johnson said. “There’s really nothing to say. He hasn’t won a college championship, I don’t know if he’s even won a high school championship.”
And Johnson wasn’t the only one, as Hall of Fame member Isiah Thomas also had something to say about it.
“Propaganda works, so be careful what you believe,” the Detroit Pistons legend shared in a post on X.
Propaganda works, so be careful what you believe.
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 20, 2024
A few days later, Thomas had even more ideas about the current generation of players.
“The only skill that is more ‘emphasized’ is the 3-point shot, creating the illusion that the athlete and their skills have magically evolved into a different athletic species,” Thomas posted on August 22.
Later that same day, Thomas argued that the taller players Today’s players are “less adept at low post offense and defensive play” and said players in the current generation only seem to be faster due to rule changes.
They seem faster now because of the rule change, which prohibits holding and hand-checking to impede progress. In football, for example, wide receivers can play fearlessly in the middle of the field and collect more yardage. Today, the rules favor quarterbacks and receivers
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 22, 2024
In summary, Edwards spoke on a topic he said he couldn’t speak on, which caused a firestorm of criticism. Johnson said he doesn’t respond to players who don’t have championships, but responded anyway. Thomas, who is active in answering and debating fans on X, had plenty to say as well.
Edwards, who turned 23 earlier this month, is no stranger to flashy quotes. Earlier this summer, he called himself the No. 1 option for Team USA in the team’s gold medal run. In 2022, he referred to himself as “Black Jesus.” And most virally, in May, he told TNT analyst Charles Barkley to “Bring ya ass” to Minnesota for the Western Conference finals.
In four seasons, Edwards has made two All-Star teams and led the Timberwolves to their deepest playoff run in decades. That recent trip to the Western Conference finals proved to be the end of the road for Minnesota, however, as Edwards’ first ring — and thus Johnson’s answer — still eludes him.
Edwards said in his interview with the WSJ that he is not in a rush to win that first title, and it doesn’t necessarily have to happen this season, according to Edwards.
“I don’t know many guys who have won a championship at a super young age, other than Kobe,” he said. “Everybody else, other than him, it’s taken years and years of losing to get there. I just want to keep taking the next step.”
(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
