After Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards claimed that Michael Jordan was the only player in older generations with skill, Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson chimed in.
Johnson, who won five championships throughout his career, said he wouldn’t listen to comments from someone who hasn’t won a title.
“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship,” Johnson said. “I’ve got nothing to say. He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”
Last week, Edwards made a bold claim, saying that Jordan was the only player “that really had skill” in older generations.
“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship… He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”
Magic Johnson didn’t hold back while responding to Anthony Edwards’ comments 👀😳
(via https://t.co/gnCFAy8D5B / IG) pic.twitter.com/8KUrvm4vZw
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 25, 2024
“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it,” he said. “They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then. [Michael Jordan] was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe [Bryant], they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill.”
Those comments were sure to ruffle some feathers, and Johnson didn’t hold back in his response.
Johnson’s resume is a pretty strong case and point that Edwards was reaching a bit with his statement. He averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 11.2 assists, tallying more than 10,000 assists during his day and revolutionizing the point guard position.
His five titles, three Finals MVPs and three regular-season MVPs also speak for themselves.
But if we have learned one thing about Edwards throughout his career, he is confident in himself, boasting about his skill in sports beyond basketball and calling himself “the No. 1 option” on a Team USA squad that featured LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
Edwards has started to back up his confidence as well, putting up a career-high 25.9 points per game and leading the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season.
Still, he’ll need to win a championship before Johnson is willing to hear him out.