We all know that the internet is forever. If you are a prominent figure that people listen to, you may want to think twice when you are preparing to make a statement that could be ill-informed. Minnesota Timberwolves fans know very well that this applies to Anthony Edwards as much as it does to anyone else.
Back over a month ago, around the third week of August, Edwards was asked about the past eras of NBA basketball by the Wall Street Journal. He responded by saying that he did not watch basketball back then so he can't speak on it, but he then opted to speak on it anyway.
"They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don't think anybody had skill back then," Ant said. " was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe , they were like, 'Oh, my God.' But now everybody has skill."
Suffice to say, this statement was not well-received by many, including the NBA legends who played during this era. Isiah Thomas spoke out against Ant's statement, as did Magic Johnson. Now, the greatest point guard from the 1990s has come back to refute Edwards once again.
Magic Johnson called out Anthony Edwards again
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday evening, Johnson had some choice words for Edwards. "Thanks a lot, Anthony," said Magic. "I think he should've asked somebody, maybe his father or his grandfather about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J., Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Clyde Drexler, all these guys, Dominique Wilkins. We had some of the most dominant players that's ever played."
We can argue about which eras are better than others all day, but this conversation has a clear and definitive correct answer. There absolutely was plenty of talent during the era Magic Johnson is speaking of, and you don't have to say that era was better than today's to agree with him. The statement Ant made was that there was no talent back then at all, which is certifiably false.
Magic continued. "Also, too, you might want to talk trash when you've won something. You know, if this came from some of the guys who just won on the Celtic team, okay, you might want to look at it. But you haven't won anything. If I'm Anthony Edwards, I'm concerned about the Dallas Mavericks, about OKC, about Boston, about all these great teams ... Concentrate, because you got beat by the Mavericks. You didn't make it to the championship. So I'm concentrating on that instead of what happened in a time you wasn't born."
There was clearly no holding back from Johnson. It is unfortunate that Ant continues to take heat for what was likely a more lighthearted comment than it may appear now. But even still, he is surely learning to think twice about making big statements on things he admits he is not knowledgeable on.