Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is a breath of fresh air the NBA needs. A precocious 24-year-old who isn’t afraid to speak his mind as much as he doesn’t hold back on completing a massive slam dunk in the grill of the league’s best rim-protectors, the native of Atlanta, Georgia, recently caused an enormous firestorm amongst the league’s pioneers when he claimed that outside of the iconic Michael Jordan, nobody else possessed much skill.
Ant’s words weren’t taken kindly by the old guard. In particular, Hall of Fame point guard and five-time NBA champ Magic Johnson took exception and said he believes someone who hasn’t won a title yet isn’t worth his attention.
“I don't never respond to a guy that's never won a championship. There's not nothing to really say. He didn't win a college championship. I don't even know if he won a high school championship,” Magic responded .
Speaking on “First Take,” renowned sports commentator Stephen A. Smith backed Magic up, emphasizing that what Ant said was utterly disrespectful to the players who helped lay the ground for him to succeed today.
Flagrant and disrespectful comments
The veteran journalist said Magic was well within his rights to say what he said. While today’s players are undoubtedly more skilled and talented due to the game’s evolution, it's important to remember and show respect for the legends who paved the way.
“They're fair. He's a five-time champion, universally recognized as the greatest point guard in the history of basketball,” Stephen A said when asked for his thoughts regarding Magic’s rebuttal of Ant’s comments.
Edwards’ sentiments were clearly out of pocket, as he didn’t have to look far for examples of skilled players during Jordan’s era.
“Larry Bird wasn't skilled? Magic? Isaiah Thomas was one of the greatest skilled guards in the history of basketball. Magic Johnson was 6'9"—a 6'9" point guard. We had never seen anything like him,” Smith emphasized. “When you come out with a statement that, you know, 'the only skilled player was Michael Jordan,' that's flagrantly disrespectful to the old guard.”
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Paved the way for this generation’s stars
Stephen A.’s main contention was that without the spectacular play of Magic, Julius Erving, Hakeem Olajuwon, and many others, today’s superstars may never have had the chance to reach their potential. Iconic players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James all benefited from the foundation laid by those who came before them.
“One of the things that I pay attention to is that I'm very apt to bring up the fact that if it were not for the pioneers, others wouldn't be what they are,” Smith pointed out. “Before there was Dr. J, there was Connie Hawkins, for crying out loud. Before there was Michael Jordan, there was Dr. J. Before there was Vince Carter, there was MJ. Before Kobe Bryant and stuff like that came later.”
The basketball world is constantly evolving, and today's players are undoubtedly more skilled and talented than ever before, thanks to advancements in training, coaching, and technology. However, amidst all the excitement and hype surrounding the current generation of players, it's essential to remember the legends who helped build the runway for their success.
Related: Stephen A. Smith asks for understanding of Ant-Man's criticism of the Jordan era: "Forgive the young buck for what he does not know"
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