Anthony Edwards has opinions concerning 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 Avenue 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 apply.
And what about in the present day’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 more durable again then than it’s now, however I don’t suppose anyone had ability again then. (Michael Jordan) was the one one that actually had ability, what I imply? In order that’s why once they noticed Kobe (Bryant), they have been like, ‘Oh, my God.’ However now everyone has ability.”
That chirp didn’t land effectively on Johnson’s ears.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend, who gained 5 titles within the Eighties, instructed 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 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 effectively.
“Propaganda works, so watch out what you select to imagine,” the Detroit Pistons legend shared in a submit 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 advanced 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 submit offense and defensive play” and stated gamers within the present era solely seem sooner on account of rule modifications.
They give the impression of being sooner in the present day due to the rule change, which prohibits holding and hand-checking to impede progress. In soccer, for instance, vast receivers can play in the course 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 effectively.
Edwards, who simply turned 23 earlier this month, isn’t any stranger to eye-catching quotes. Earlier this summer time, he known as himself the No. 1 possibility for Crew USA earlier than the staff’s gold-medal run. In 2022, he known as himself “Black Jesus.” And most virally, in Could he instructed TNT analyst Charles Barkley to “Carry ya ass” to Minnesota for the Western Convention finals.
Via 4 seasons, Edwards has made two All-Star groups and led the Timberwolves to their farthest playoff run in many years. That current journey to the Western Convention finals proved to be the tip of the highway for Minnesota, nonetheless, 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, everyone took years and years of shedding to get there. I simply need to maintain taking the subsequent step.”
(Picture: Jamie Squire / Getty Pictures)
