NBA legend Magic Johnson has responded critically to recent remarks made by Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. Edwards had claimed that Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan was the only player from past eras who possessed significant skill, suggesting that players from previous decades lacked the talent seen in today’s game.
In an interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Johnson, a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, addressed Edwards’ comments, stating, “I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship.” Johnson further noted, “(Edwards) didn’t win a college championship. I don’t know if he even won a high school championship.”
Edwards had expressed his views during a conversation with Lane Florsheim of the Wall Street Journal, saying, “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.”
Although Edwards won a Georgia state title in 2018 while at Holy Spirit Preparatory School and earned an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Games, he has not achieved comparable success in the NBA. In his four seasons with the Timberwolves, Edwards has advanced past the first round of the playoffs only once.
Johnson, who played in the NBA from 1979 to 1991 and returned briefly for 32 games in the 1995-96 season, was named Finals MVP three times and won the 1979 NCAA title with Michigan State.
