Magic Johnson hit back at Anthony Edwards’ claim that Michael Jordan was the only talented player of his time, brutally telling the US Olympic star: “I never answer to a guy who has never won a championship.”
Edwards, who helped America win gold at the Paris Olympics this summer, recently sparked controversy by claiming that Jordan was the only NBA player with natural talent at the time.
“I didn’t see it then, so I can’t comment on it,” the Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard told the Wall Street Journal. “They say it was harder then than it is now, but I don’t think anyone had the skill back then. (Jordan) was the only one who really had the skill, you know what I mean?”
Given his legendary stints with the LA Lakers immediately before Jordan’s with the Chicago Bulls, Johnson has more reason than most to dispute Edwards’ assessment.
Magic Johnson brutally hit back at Anthony Edwards (right) for claiming that Michael Jordan was the only talented player of his time
However, the five-time NBA champion and three-time MVP refused to even acknowledge his comments when asked about them by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith over the weekend.
“I never answer a guy who has never won a championship,” Johnson said of Edwards.
“There’s nothing to say. He didn’t win a college championship. I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”
Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time after winning five NBA championships with the Lakers between 1980 and 1988.
He was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals three times and also participated in the NBA All-Star Game twelve times.
The 65-year-old, who was a member of the famous 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team alongside Jordan, remains the NBA’s leader in average assists per game, both in the regular season (11.19) and in the playoffs (12.35).
Edwards claimed that Michael Jordan was the only talented player of his time
Johnson heavily criticized the US Olympic star for his lack of championship participation
He mocked Edwards for not winning a title at the professional, college, or high school level up to that point.
Edwards, on the other hand, is still aiming for his first championship title after four seasons with the Timberwolves.
The former Georgia College star has been named an All-Star twice but has yet to make the NBA Finals.
Last season, Minnesota suffered a defeat in the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
However, Edwards put that disappointment to rest by helping the United States win a gold medal at the Olympics this month.
