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Comments from NBA superstar Anthony Edwards have created a stir in the NBA world.
The 23-year-old American pointed out that NBA players from before his time didn’t have skill.
Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving, an NBA star who was one of the most popular players in the 70s, decided to respond to Edwards’ remarks.
The "Come and Talk 2 Me" podcast gave Erving a chance to share his thoughts and explain why he disagrees with the young NBA star.
The 74-year-old highlighted a few names that made a significant impact in the NBA and are still talked about today.
He believes that Edwards would have a tough time if he played on the court with those legends.
“Oh, c’mon man. Wilt, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Elgin Baylor, who was my favorite. My personal favorite was Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. If you just take those five right there. You put Anthony Edwards on the court with them or whatever. He would change his opinion,” Erving said on the Come and talk 2 me podcast, as quoted by basketballforever.
Edwards admitted that he hasn’t watched old NBA stars, but it seems that, despite this, he believes former players are quite worse than today’s.
Many see his view as based on the idea that the NBA has advanced year after year and will continue to improve in the future.
Older basketball fans, on the other hand, base their opinions on the time when they got to watch those legends, often comparing it to the present and sometimes idealizing those stars.
Basketball experts have different opinions, varying on whether the NBA was better in the past or now.
The fact is that every sport has progressed, but it also raises the question of whether progress suits everyone or if people base their opinions on the beauty of the sport and exciting plays.
Dr. J suggested that Anthony Edwards made those comments because he hasn’t faced enough tough competition in his basketball career.
He pointed out that while Edwards is very talented and confident, being from Georgia means he might not have had the same experiences as urban players from places like New York or D.C. The former NBA star stresses that players often gain more respect because they see many others who are just as good or even better than they are. Dr. J believes Edwards hasn't had that experience in middle school, high school, or college where he faced players who were superior to him.
Magic Johnson reacts
Many former NBA stars have also reacted, and one of them is Magic Johnson, who feels quite frustrated and disappointed by the comments from the 23-year-old star. Johnson believes that Edwards could have the right to say such things if he had achieved something significant in his career. However, Johnson emphasizes that the situation is a bit different.
"You might want to talk trash when you've won something," Johnson said, as quoted by Marca.
"But you haven't won anything."
Edwards also emphasized Michael Jordan and his era, believing that today’s NBA players would dominate at that time. Recent stars in the NBA are disappointed with this approach from the young player, feeling that he is disrespecting everything Jordan and many others accomplished in the 90s. Johnson reiterated his belief that a player like Edwards shouldn’t make such statements, especially since he hasn’t yet achieved massive success in his career.
Magic Johnson stresses that Edwards should focus his energy on other aspects and work hard to achieve success as a basketball player and compete against teams. He referenced the 2023-2024 season when Edwards' team faced the Dallas Mavericks, suggesting that both Edwards as an individual and the team need to put in the effort to achieve success in the NBA.
Paul Goerge reacts
Paul George acknowledged that he understands the point Edwards was trying to make, but he also admitted that he finds it confusing and doesn't fully grasp what Edwards meant.
George believes that the young star has shown disrespect towards many NBA legends, and he considers Edwards' comments to be immature. Additionally, George is not happy with the way young players behave, feeling they need to show greater respect to the legends of the sport.
It’s clear that the young player has created quite a stir in the NBA with his remarks, drawing backlash from prominent figures in the game. The 23-year-old has yet to respond to the legends' criticisms. While there are many who share Edwards' viewpoint, they certainly do not wish to disrespect the basketball legends.
The 23-year-old has drawn backlash upon himself, but it seems that was his intention by speaking so publicly and openly about everything.
English (US)