By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Did Anthony Edwards just poke a huge bear?
Following his recent claims stating that players in the past NBA eras lacked the skills except Michael Jordan, five-time champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson broke his silence and roasted the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar on August 26, 2024.
The NBA legend responded to Edwards’ statement when he was interviewed by Lane Florsheim of the Wall Street Journal.
“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,” Edwards said.
On the other hand, Johnson quickly responded to Edwards’ words in an interview with veteran sports analyst Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.
“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship. Edwards didn’t win a college championship. I don’t know if he even won a high school championship,” said Johnson.
Johnson, who was drafted as the no. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, quickly became a sensation in the city after drawing more crowd with his flashy style of play at the point guard position.
The flashiness and the glitter however translated into winning, as Johnson brought five NBA titles to Los Angeles from 1980-1988.
In those five championship campaigns, Johnson won the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times (1980, 1982, 1987).
Johnson was considered as one of the most skilled NBA players to ever set foot on the hardwood, playing as a floor general with a height of six-foot-nine.
He also did one of the most unthinkable moments in the history of the NBA finals after playing the center position when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went down with an injury in their series against Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers.
After the action-packed Game 6, Johnson’s role filling in the center spot helped Los Angeles win the NBA title, tallying 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
