The ‘skill’ beef: Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas fire back at Anthony Edwards and dig at the older generation

Anthony Edwards has opinions about the generations of players before he was born. Magic Johnson doesn’t think Edwards has the right credentials to warrant a response. Isiah Thomas has thoughts of his own and thus the recipe for NBA offseason beef was born.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Released last week, Edwards gave a slew of answers that cemented his confident reputation. Is there something you are bad at? “I haven’t found it yet,” he said. Favorite moment of the Olympics? Dunking on Kevin Durant in practice.

And what about the current basketball generation? Is this different from the older generations?

“I didn’t watch it at the time, so I can’t say anything about it,” said Edwards, born in 2001. “They say it was harder then than it is now, but I don’t think anyone had the skills at the time. (Michael Jordan) was the only one who really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe (Bryant), they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everyone has skills.”

That chirping didn’t land well in Johnson’s ears.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend, who won five titles in the 1980s, told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that Edwards needs a ring of his own before he can start making such claims.

“I never respond to someone who has never won a championship,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing really to say. He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t know if he even won a high school championship.

And Johnson wasn’t alone, as fellow Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas also had some comments.

“Propaganda works, so be careful what you believe,” the Detroit Pistons legend shared in a post on X.

Propaganda works, so be careful what you believe. https://t.co/A2fJvxDlmd

— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 20, 2024

Days later, Thomas had more thoughts on the current generation of players.

“The only skill that is emphasized more is the three-point shot, which creates the illusion that the athlete and his skills have magically evolved into a different athletic species,” Thomas posted on August 22.

Later that same day, Thomas argued that the bigger players of today are “less skilled in low post-offensive and defensive play” and said current generation players are only emerging faster due to rule changes.

They look faster these days because of the rule change, which bans holding and manual checking to hinder progress. For example, in football, wide receivers can play in the middle of the field without fear and gather more yardage. These days, the rules favor quarterbacks and receivers https://t.co/yHIBUEUYw4

— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) August 22, 2024

In short, Edwards spoke about a subject he said he couldn’t speak on, which created a firestorm. Johnson said he doesn’t respond to players who don’t have championships, but responded anyway. Thomas, who is active in replying and debating with fans on X, also had plenty to say.

Edwards, who just turned 23 earlier this month, is no stranger to eye-catching quotes. Earlier this summer, he named himself the No. 1 option for Team USA before the team captured the gold medal. In 2022 he called himself ‘Black Jesus’. And most virally, he told TNT analyst Charles Barkley in May to “Bring ya ass” to Minnesota for the Western Conference finals.

Over four seasons, Edwards has made two All-Star teams and led the Timberwolves to their deepest playoff run in decades. That recent trip to the Western Conference finals proved to be the end of the road for Minnesota, however, as Edwards’ first ring — and thus Johnson’s response — still eludes him.

Additionally, Edwards said in his interview with the WSJ that he’s not really in a rush to win that first title, saying it won’t necessarily come next season.

“I don’t know many guys who won a championship super young, except Kobe,” he said. “Everyone besides himself took years and years of losing to get there. I just want to keep taking the next step.”

(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)