"You got beat by the Mavericks" — Magic Johnson continues his retaliation against Anthony Edwards’ controversial remarks
To this day, Magic Johnson is still widely regarded as the greatest point guard in NBA history. Fully aware of his contributions to the game, he has been one of many legends displeased by Anthony Edwards' comments about players of the past.
During an interview earlier this summer, Edwards made a bold remark by saying that Michael Jordan was the only player with skill during his time. Multiple players from previous generations have shared their thoughts on the subject ever since.
On "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Thursday night, Johnson was once again asked about Edwards' statement. He feels the young star should be focused on the Dallas Mavericks after getting bounced in the Western Conference finals.
"Concentrate, cause you got beat by the Mavericks," Johnson said. "You didn't make it to the championship, so I'm concentrating on that. Instead of what happened in a time you weren't born." [6:25]
Johnson also came to the defense of his era, naming multiple all-time talents who played before or alongside Jordan. Among those mentioned were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius "Dr. J" Erving and his longtime friend Isiah Thomas.
Along with being one of the most talented guards in league history, Johnson has a resume that few players can match. The LA Lakers legend was a 12-time All-Star, five-time champion, three-time Finals MVP, three-time regular season MVP and was named to 10 All-NBA teams. On top of this, he led the league in assists on four separate occasions and in steals twice.
Magic Johnson's first dig at Anthony Edwards wasn't as nice
Since Edwards shared his thoughts on the NBA's past, Johnson has addressed it on multiple occasions. While his comments with Kimmel were polite, that wasn't the case the first time.
The first time Johnson addressed the remarks was during an interview with longtime analyst and reporter Stephen A. Smith. When asked to reply, the Hall of Fame guard jabbed at Edwards, saying he doesn't reply to anyone who hasn't won a championship.
"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." [1:26]
Magic never denied that Edwards is an emerging superstar in the NBA, but he did bring up his shortcomings on both occasions. Through the early stages of his career, he's yet to break through and win at the highest level.
Edwards showed last season that he has the potential to be a top player in the league. He even elevated his game for stretches in the postseason, getting the Minnesota Timberwolves back to the conference finals for the first time in 20 years. That said, Johnson seems adamant about the young star focusing his time and energy on securing a title.