Magic Johnson Responds to Anthony Edwards' Comments on Past Eras' Skill

NBA legend Magic Johnson has addressed recent remarks by Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who claimed that Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan was the only skilled player from previous eras.

Johnson, in an interview with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, criticized Edwards' statement, saying, “I never respond to a guy who's never won a championship.” He added, “(Edwards) didn't win a college championship. I don't know if he even won a high school championship.”

Edwards had made his comments during a conversation with the Wall Street Journal's Lane Florsheim, stating, “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.”

Edwards, who won a Georgia state title in 2018 while at Holy Spirit Preparatory School and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Games, has yet to achieve similar success in the NBA. In his four seasons with the Timberwolves, he has advanced past the opening round of the playoffs only once.

Magic Johnson, who played in the NBA from 1979 to 1991 and made a brief return for 32 games in the 1995-96 season, is a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was named Finals MVP three times and also won the 1979 NCAA title with Michigan State, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State in the championship game.