Anthony Edwards has opinions concerning the generations of gamers earlier than he was born. Magic Johnson doesn’t assume Edwards has the credentials to warrant a response. Isiah Thomas has his personal ideas, and thus the recipe for offseason NBA beef is born.
In an interview with the Wall Avenue Journal launched final week, Edwards gave a bevy of solutions reinforcing his confident status. Is there something you’re dangerous at? I haven’t discovered it but, he mentioned. Favourite second from the Olympics? Dunking on Kevin Durant in follow.
And what about in the present day’s technology of basketball, is it completely different from older generations?
“I didn’t watch it again within the day so I can’t converse on it,” Edwards, who was born in 2001, mentioned. “They are saying it was harder again then than it’s now, however I don’t assume anyone had talent again then. (Michael Jordan) was the one one that actually had talent, you recognize what I imply? In order that’s why once they noticed Kobe (Bryant), they have been like, ‘Oh, my God.’ However now everyone has talent.”
That chirp didn’t land nicely on Johnson’s ears.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend, who gained 5 titles within the Eighties, advised ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that Edwards wants a hoop of his personal earlier than he can begin making such claims.
“I don’t by no means reply to a man that’s by no means gained a championship,” Johnson mentioned. “There’s not nothing to essentially say. He didn’t win a university championship, I don’t know if he even gained a highschool championship.”
And Johnson wasn’t alone, as fellow Corridor of Famer Isiah Thomas had some ideas so as to add as nicely.
“Propaganda works, so watch out what you select to imagine,” the Detroit Pistons legend shared in a publish on X.
Propaganda works, so watch out what you select to imagine. https://t.co/A2fJvxDlmd
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 20, 2024
Days later, Thomas had extra ideas on the present technology of gamers.
“The one talent ’emphasised’ extra is the 3-point shot, creating the phantasm that the athlete and expertise have magically developed into one other athletic species,” Thomas posted on Aug. 22.
Later that very same day, Thomas argued that the taller gamers of in the present day are “much less expert in low publish offense and defensive play” and mentioned gamers within the present technology solely seem sooner on account of rule adjustments.
They appear sooner in the present day due to the rule change, which prohibits holding and hand-checking to impede progress. In soccer, for instance, broad receivers can play in the midst of the sphere with out concern and rack up extra yardage. In the present day, the principles favor quarterbacks and receivers https://t.co/yHIBUEUYw4
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 22, 2024
In summation, Edwards spoke on a subject he mentioned he couldn’t converse on, which set off a firestorm. Johnson mentioned he doesn’t reply to gamers who don’t have championships, however responded anyway. Thomas, who’s lively in replying and debating with followers on X, had a lot to say as nicely.
Edwards, who simply turned 23 earlier this month, isn’t any stranger to eye-catching quotes. Earlier this summer time, he referred to as himself the No. 1 possibility for Workforce USA earlier than the workforce’s gold-medal run. In 2022, he referred to as himself “Black Jesus.” And most virally, in Might he advised TNT analyst Charles Barkley to “Convey ya ass” to Minnesota for the Western Convention finals.
By means of 4 seasons, Edwards has made two All-Star groups and led the Timberwolves to their farthest playoff run in a long time. That latest journey to the Western Convention finals proved to be the top of the street for Minnesota, nonetheless, as Edwards’ first ring — and thus Johnson’s response — nonetheless eludes him.
Moreover in his interview with the WSJ, Edwards mentioned he isn’t in a lot of a rush to win that first title, saying it doesn’t essentially must arrive this coming season.
“I don’t know too many guys who gained a championship tremendous younger, moreover Kobe,” he mentioned. “Aside from him, everyone took years and years of shedding to get there. I simply need to maintain taking the following step.”
(Picture: Jamie Squire / Getty Pictures)
