{"id":92427,"date":"2024-08-26T08:36:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T12:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=92427"},"modified":"2024-08-26T08:38:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T12:38:12","slug":"magic-johnson-claps-back-at-anthony-edwards-over-recent-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/26\/magic-johnson-claps-back-at-anthony-edwards-over-recent-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Hall-of-Famer Claps Back at Anthony Edwards Over Recent Comments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a recent sit-down with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/stephenasmith?igsh=MTl4Mmh5aGl3cW05dg==\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephen A. Smith<\/a> on noleash.tv, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnsma02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magic Johnson<\/a> eviscerated Anthony Edwards. The legendary point guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/nba\/magic-johnson-shades-anthony-edwards-diss-i-never-respond-guy-whose-never-won-1944182\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">responded<\/a> to Edwards\u2019 controversial remarks. Edwards claimed there were no skilled players outside of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jordami01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Jordan<\/a> in the 90s.\u00a0Magic\u2019s retort?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Magic Johnson on Anthony Edwards saying Michael Jordan was the only player with real skill back in the day:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never respond to a guy who&#8217;s never won a championship&#8230; He didn&#8217;t win a college championship, I don&#8217;t even know if he won a high school championship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(via\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zC7hE6DRiC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/zC7hE6DRiC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LegionHoops\/status\/1827799002588520903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Laker Hall-of-Famer Claps Back at Anthony Edwards Over Recent Comments<\/h3>\n<h3>A Storied Career<\/h3>\n<p>To understand why Magic responded so sharply, we need to revisit his legacy. Magic is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. Almost immediately, Magic proved he was special. In his rookie season, he led the Lakers to an NBA title. He was named Finals MVP that year, a rare feat for a rookie.<\/p>\n<p>Magic\u2019s success didn\u2019t stop there. Over the course of his career, he won five NBA championships and three NBA MVP awards. He was also named to the All-Star team 12 times. In college, Magic was equally impressive. He <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.ncaa.com\/news\/basketball-men\/article\/2022-03-07\/earvin-magic-johnson-college-basketball-stats-best-moments-quotes\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">led<\/a> Michigan State to an NCAA Championship in 1979, defeating <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/birdla01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Larry Bird<\/a>\u2019s Indiana State team. His performance in that tournament was so outstanding that he was <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.ncaa.com\/news\/basketball-men\/article\/2022-03-07\/earvin-magic-johnson-college-basketball-stats-best-moments-quotes\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">named<\/a> the Most Outstanding Player.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the numbers, Magic was known for his leadership and vision on the court. He was a point guard who could do it all\u2014score, pass, rebound, and defend. Magic\u2019s ability to elevate his teammates set him apart from other greats. He was a player who knew how to win, and he did it repeatedly.<\/p>\n<h3>A Budding Star<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Anthony Edwards says that Michael Jordan was the only player with real skill back in the day<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I didn&#39;t watch it back in the day so I can&#39;t speak on it. They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don&#39;t think anybody had skill back then. [Michael Jordan] was the only\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fZ5GkqbxnZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/fZ5GkqbxnZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheDunkCentral\/status\/1825885476202385789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 20, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s look at Edwards. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/timberwolves\/2020-nba-draft-profile-anthony-edwards#:~:text=Strong%20first%20step%20and%20bouncy,the%20ball%20in%20his%20hands.\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Drafted<\/a> first overall in 2020 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Edwards has shown promise. In his rookie season, he <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/player\/1630162\/anthony-edwards\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">averaged<\/a> 19.3 points per game. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Over the next few seasons, he improved, becoming the Timberwolves\u2019 cornerstone player. By the 2023-24 season, Edwards was <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/player\/1630162\/anthony-edwards\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">averaging<\/a> over 25 points per game. He also <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/22\/2023-24-all-nba-teams-revealed\/\" target=\"_self\">earned<\/a>\u00a0an All-NBA second-team selection during the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n<p>Impressively, Edwards led his team to their <a  href=\"https:\/\/champsorchumps.us\/team\/nba\/minnesota-timberwolves\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12th-ever<\/a> playoff appearance. The Timberwolves, with Edwards at the helm, have made three postseason appearances. In the first two trips, they failed to advance past the first round. The Timberwolves made it all the way to the Western Conference finals this past season where they <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/30\/how-did-the-timberwolves-avoid-a-sweep\/\" target=\"_self\">lost<\/a> 4-1 to the Dallas Mavericks.\u00a0Going back, Edwards didn\u2019t achieve significant success in college or high school. This is a far cry from Magic\u2019s decorated career.<\/p>\n<p>Edwards\u2019 comments about the 90s NBA seem especially bold considering this. That era is widely regarded as one of the toughest in NBA history. Magic was a key figure mostly during the late 80s but also the early 90s, battling against legends like Bird, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thomais01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isiah Thomas<\/a>, and MJ. For Edwards to dismiss the skill level of that time would naturally rub someone like Magic the wrong way.<\/p>\n<h3>Magic Johnson Puts Anthony Edwards in His Place<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;I never respond to a guy who&#39;s never won a championship&#8230; He didn&#39;t win a college championship, I don&#39;t even know if he won a high school championship.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Magic Johnson didn&#39;t hold back while responding to Anthony Edwards&#39; comments \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n<p>(via <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gnCFAy8D5B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/gnCFAy8D5B<\/a> \/ IG) <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8KUrvm4vZw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/8KUrvm4vZw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ClutchPoints\/status\/1827797973985620121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Magic\u2019s response, \u201cI never respond to a guy who\u2019s never won a championship,\u201d drives home a key point. In Magic Johnson\u2019s eyes, Anthony Edwards hasn\u2019t earned the right to make such sweeping statements. Magic himself won championships at every level\u2014high school, college, and the NBA. He understands what it takes to win and the value of respecting those who\u2019ve done it before.<\/p>\n<p>Magic\u2019s criticism also reflects his belief in earning respect through accomplishments. He was never one to shy away from competition. In fact, he thrived on it, as seen in his many battles with Bird, which defined an era. To Magic, winning championships wasn\u2019t just about personal glory. It was about proving oneself on the biggest stage, time and again.<\/p>\n<p>Edwards, on the other hand, is still early in his career. He\u2019s shown flashes of greatness, but he hasn\u2019t yet reached the pinnacle of success. For Magic, that\u2019s a crucial distinction. Before someone criticizes an era or its players, they should have the accolades to back it up.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p>In the end, Magic Johnson\u2019s response to Anthony Edwards was more than just a clapback. It was a reminder of what it takes to be great in the NBA. It was also a call for the younger generation to respect the legends who paved the way. For Edwards, it\u2019s a lesson that greatness isn\u2019t just about talent\u2014it\u2019s about proving it when it matters most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a recent sit-down with Stephen A. Smith on noleash.tv, Magic Johnson eviscerated Anthony Edwards. The legendary point guard responded to Edwards\u2019 controversial remarks. Edwards claimed there were no skilled players outside of Michael Jordan in the 90s.\u00a0Magic\u2019s retort? Magic Johnson on Anthony Edwards saying Michael Jordan was the only player with real skill back [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":92465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,30,26,21,3],"tags":[4945,2109,1853,455,755,607,49478,98,3836,2081],"class_list":["post-92427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-mavericks","category-lakers","category-timberwolves","category-news","tag-2023-2024-season","tag-anthony-edwards","tag-isiah-thomas","tag-larry-bird","tag-magic-johnson","tag-michael-jordan","tag-nba-90s","tag-nba-draft","tag-stephen-a-smith","tag-team-usa"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92427\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}