Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has backed up Anthony Edwards’ comments about Michael Jordan being the only skilled player of his generation. Arenas, who interpreted Edwards’ comments to be about athleticism rather than skill, took it to the extreme by comparing “His Airness” to a Bugatti among the “Honda Civics” in the 1990s.
On the latest episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, the crew discussed Edwards’ remarks about MJ and the older generation of NBA players. Arenas believes that the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar was telling the truth and explained it in terms of cars.
“Basically, all Jordan’s competition in that era did not even have the physical tools to keep up with him. So he was basically a Bugatti and everybody else was a Honda Civic. All the shooting guards were 6’4 and under. They didn’t have no jumping ability, right? So who he went against, he’s saying they wasn’t talented meaning they wasn’t athletic to keep up with them today,” Arenas said. [7:44 onward]
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But what did Anthony Edwards say about Michael Jordan and the rest of the 1980s and 1990s? In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Aug. 19, Edwards was asked to compare the current generation of players to those from 30 to 40 years ago.
“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it. They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then. (Jordan) was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe, they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill,” Edwards said.
While Edwards admitted that he didn’t watch tapes from the 1980s and 1990s, he came off as arrogant, which was not surprising considering it’s not the first time his confidence got under the skin of many. He drew the ire of several NBA legends but some fans have his back.
Michael Jordan’s rivals fire back at Anthony Edwards
Michael Jordan’s rivals fire back at Anthony Edwards. (Photo: IMAGN)
Anthony Edwards might be the future of the NBA but Michael Jordan’s contemporaries are not letting the disrespect slide. Edwards’ comments did rub some legends the wrong way including two of MJ’s biggest rivals – Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson.
Thomas was a little diplomatic when he tweeted about Edwards’ remarks, claiming that it’s all about propaganda and people should not believe everything that is put online.
“Propaganda works. So be careful what you choose to believe,” Thomas tweeted.
On the other hand, Johnson went for the jugular in an interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Here’s what the five-time NBA champion said:
“I never respond to a guy that’s never won a championship. He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t know if he even won a high school championship.”
Thomas led the ‘Bad Boys’ Detroit Pistons to several playoff victories over Jordan’s Bulls as they won back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile, Magic’s ‘Showtime’ Lakers dominated the ’80s with five titles, three of which with Jordan in the league.
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