Minnesota Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards has gotten himself in hot water. Last week, the two-time All-Star was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal’s Lane Florsheim. While the primary topic was Edwards’s Olympic experience, 2020 No. 1 pick was at one point asked to compare different generations of players:
“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. [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.”
As expected, those comments didn’t go over smoothly. Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George summed it up best, saying “it was kind of disrespectful to the game,” on the latest airing of Podcast P with Paul George.
“I thought it was a very immature comment,” the 34-year-old continues. “Obviously, Anthony Edwards is super talented and is a huge talent going forward. But, just how much the game has grown and how far – you gotta pay dues to those dudes that did it before us.”
Paul George Calls Out ‘Disrespectful’ Anthony Edwards
As Edwards says himself, he didn’t watch “ back in the day.”
However, while he can’t help when he was born, there are plenty of throwback games that are viewable. He doesn’t seem to know that. Yet, from his comments, he was knowingly speaking from a place of ignorance.
Perhaps he didn’t believe his comments would be taken so seriously. After all, Edwards built something akin to a class clown image in the NBA. Most times, his charisma and humor are endearing qualities. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is approaching his fifth year in the league. As a result, there are times when more maturity is expected.
Furthermore, the rising star is a face of the new generation. It’s Edwards’s responsibility to carry the torch, all while showing respect to those that came before him. This doesn’t mean he has to have encyclopedic knowledge of basketball history. He just has to pay homage.
In this case, all he had to say was he didn’t watch enough to know for sure, but he believed Jordan was the most skilled player. That would’ve sufficed, because even if controversial, it wasn’t disrespectful. It wasn’t dismissive.
There Were Plenty Of Players With Skill
The biggest issue with Edwards’s comments might’ve been that they were off base.
Isiah Thomas, a 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion, certainly was skilled. Indeed, he was so skilled that Jordan was bested by his Detroit Pistons on several occasions. Larry Bird, a three-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA champion, was a do-it-all player. Players like Bird, Scottie Pippen, and Charles Barkley were among the first point-forwards in the NBA.
If Edwards was looking for the prototypical modern-day wings, 10-time All-Star Clyde Drexler is someone to study. If he was trying to determine who the best ball-handlers were, not only Thomas, but Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and Tim Hardaway should’ve been on his list. Prior to his injury, Penny Hardaway was sensational.
The list goes on and on.
Hopefully, the backlash Edwards has gotten will make him want to educate himself. He’s been universally beloved up to this point. Now, it’s not just George or fans, but NBA legends like Magic Johnson (arguably the most skilled passer of all-time) taking shots at him.
