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

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

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal released last week, Edwards gave a bevy of answers reinforcing his self-assured reputation. Is there anything you’re bad at? I haven’t found it yet, he said. Favorite moment from the Olympics? Dunking on Kevin Durant in practice.

And what about today’s generation of basketball, is it different from older generations?

“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it,” Edwards, who was born in 2001, said. “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, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe (Bryant), they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill.”

That chirp didn’t land well on 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 don’t never respond to a guy that’s never won a championship,” Johnson said. “There’s not nothing to really 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 had some thoughts to add as well.

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

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

“The only skill ’emphasized’ more is the 3-point shot, creating the illusion that the athlete and skills have magically evolved into another athletic species,” Thomas posted on Aug. 22.

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

In summation, Edwards spoke on a topic he said he couldn’t speak on, which set off 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, had plenty to say as well.

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

Through four seasons, Edwards has made two All-Star teams and led the Timberwolves to their farthest 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 in his interview with the WSJ, Edwards said he isn’t in much of a rush to win that first title, saying it doesn’t necessarily need to arrive this coming season.

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

(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)