Anthony Edwards has opinions in regards to the generations of gamers earlier than he was born. Magic Johnson doesn’t suppose 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 Road Journal launched final week, Edwards gave a bevy of solutions reinforcing his confident status. Is there something you’re unhealthy at? I haven’t discovered it but, he stated. Favourite second from the Olympics? Dunking on Kevin Durant in observe.
And what about at the moment’s era of basketball, is it completely different from older generations?
“I didn’t watch it again within the day so I can’t communicate on it,” Edwards, who was born in 2001, stated. “They are saying it was harder again then than it’s now, however I don’t suppose anyone had ability again then. (Michael Jordan) was the one one that basically had ability, you understand what I imply? In order that’s why once they noticed Kobe (Bryant), they had been like, ‘Oh, my God.’ However now all people has ability.”
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 stated. “There’s not nothing to actually say. He didn’t win a school 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 era of gamers.
“The one ability ’emphasised’ extra is the 3-point shot, creating the phantasm that the athlete and abilities 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 at the moment are “much less expert in low publish offense and defensive play” and stated gamers within the present era solely seem sooner resulting from rule modifications.
They give the impression of being sooner at the moment due to the rule change, which prohibits holding and hand-checking to impede progress. In soccer, for instance, vast receivers can play in the midst of the sector with out concern and rack up extra yardage. At present, the foundations favor quarterbacks and receivers https://t.co/yHIBUEUYw4
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 22, 2024
In summation, Edwards spoke on a subject he stated he couldn’t communicate on, which set off a firestorm. Johnson stated he doesn’t reply to gamers who don’t have championships, however responded anyway. Thomas, who’s energetic in replying and debating with followers on X, had loads to say as nicely.
Edwards, who simply turned 23 earlier this month, isn’t any stranger to eye-catching quotes. Earlier this summer season, he referred to as himself the No. 1 choice for Staff USA earlier than the staff’s gold-medal run. In 2022, he referred to as himself “Black Jesus.” And most virally, in Could he advised TNT analyst Charles Barkley to “Convey ya ass” to Minnesota for the Western Convention finals.
By way 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 highway for Minnesota, nevertheless, as Edwards’ first ring — and thus Johnson’s response — nonetheless eludes him.
Moreover in his interview with the WSJ, Edwards stated 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, in addition to Kobe,” he stated. “Apart from him, all people took years and years of shedding to get there. I simply need to hold taking the subsequent step.”
(Photograph: Jamie Squire / Getty Photos)