NBA legend Magic Johnson didn’t take too kindly to Anthony Edwards’ recent comments on social media, and he made sure to clap back in style.
In a Legends Dinner Series event at Yamaava Resort & Casino in California, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith sat down with Johnson to ask him a series of questions, including his thoughts on the Minnesota Timberwolves guard’s stance about Michael Jordan being the “only” skilled player during his first tenure in the league. Magic made sure to let everyone know he didn’t like the comment.
“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship,” Johnson answered. “He didn’t win a college championship. I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”
Johnson established himself as one of the NBA’s greatest players during the 1980s. He retired with five NBA championships, three regular-season and finals MVP awards, and one NCAA championship under his belt.
Edwards is one of the most exciting players in the NBA today. The two-time NBA All-Star may have not won a single NBA championship in his career thus far, he can still boast about winning an Olympic gold medal in the recently finished 2024 Paris Olympics.
Magic Johnson sees three NBA players thriving in his time
Magic Johnson mentioned three names that he saw could translate their games in his NBA era.
In his 2014 appearance at The Breakfast Club, the former Los Angeles Laker named LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant as such athletes.
“I think that Kobe and LeBron [could play in our era] for sure,” Johnson said. Garnett, with his toughness, he would have been able to play [too]. We would have made those dudes a little tougher. [LeBron] would have been on the floor, no question about it. … Kobe already got that tough mind attitude so he would fight right in …”
Johnson argued that the players’ excellent skill sets and winning mentalities would fit right in with the players in his time. He and his peers would have helped Bryant, James, and Garnett elevate further in their careers, especially in their time when there’s a certain level of physicality that is a far cry from what’s allowed in the modern era.
The late Bryant, like Magic, spent his entire career with the Lakers, while James played with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat before moving to Los Angeles. Garnett, meanwhile, played the majority of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a couple of stints with the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets in between.
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