Anthony Edwards vs. Magic Johnson: The 'Skill' Debate Between NBA Eras

By Kirsten Cunanan September 16, 2024 10:32

Anthony Edwards sparked controversies when he shared that 1990s NBA players lacked skills. He also said that NBA icon Michael Jordan was the only exception. Of course, this garnered a lot of feedback from the community, even NBA veteran Magic Johnson.

Anthony Edwards vs. Magic Johnson

The whole controversy started with Anthony Edwards’ interview with The Wall Street Journal. When asked about the difference between the older generations and his generation of players, he answered,

“I didn’t watch it back in the day, so I can’t speak on it. 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.”

Magic Johnson responded to Anthony Edwards’ claims by emphasizing the latter’s lack of championship. In a live interview with Stephen A. Smith, Johnson said:

“I never respond to a guy that’s never won a championship. There’s not nothing to really say. He didn’t win a college championship. I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”

Johnson also highlighted that Edwards’ opinion cannot be deemed credible due to his lack of experience and championships throughout his basketball career.

NBA Career Face-Off

Magic Johnson has had an exceptional career in the NBA. His resume truly speaks for itself. If we compare it to Anthony Edwards’ stats, it would look something like this:

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Won

Anthony Edwards - 0
Magic Johnson - 5

NBA Seasons Played

Anthony Edwards - 4
Magic Johnson - 13

Playoffs Played

Anthony Edwards - 3
Magic Johnson - 13

All-Star Games

Anthony Edwards - 2
Magic Johnson - 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP

Anthony Edwards 0
Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP

Anthony Edwards 0
Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team

Anthony Edwards - 0
Magic Johnson - 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections)

Anthony Edwards - 1
Magic Johnson - 10

Assists Leader

Anthony Edwards - 0
Magic Johnson - 4

Steals Leader

Anthony Edwards - 0
Magic Johnson - 2

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game

Anthony Edwards 22.9
Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game

Anthony Edwards 5.2
Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game

Anthony Edwards 4.1
Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game

Anthony Edwards 1.4
Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game

Anthony Edwards 0.6
Magic Johnson 0.4

Magic Johnson has impressed the basketball world with his skills and achievements–from High School Championships to NCAA titles and then NBA Championships.

On the other hand, Anthony Edwards also has remarkable achievements, such as representing Team USA and taking home a Gold Medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As the discussion escalated, other NBA veterans like Isaiah Thomas and Kevin Garnett also criticized Edwards. While Anthony Edwards has proven himself to be a rising star in the league with his list of accolades, the former NBA stars did not take such criticism lightly.

The debate about the skill differences between various NBA eras will likely continue, and the divide between the older generation and today’s generation may only continue to rise.