"Magic Johnson didn’t have skill?": Anthony Edwards faces fans backlash after dismissing skills of pre-Michael Jordan era

Anthony Edwards is one of the most exciting young players to watch in the NBA today. From his on-court demeanor to his athletic playstyle, he has garnered praise for the kind of production he brings. However, Edwards received backlash from fans for his comments about Michael Jordan being the only skilled player back in the day.

There have been some debates regarding the skill disparity between previous NBA eras and the modern age. While the talent level of today's players vastly differs from what they can do on the court, there were also a handful of former players who stood out due to their skills which not many had.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star shared his comments in an interview with The Wall Street Journal's Lane Florsheim which NBA Central on X also posted.

"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," Edwards said.

In response, several NBA fans were not pleased with what Anthony Edwards said.

Some criticized him for giving his opinion about a topic that he is not knowledgeable about.

"What's with the modern NBA entire thing being discrediting its sports history? I feel like I don't see this at all, or very little, in the NFL world. Curious," the fan posted.

"I didn't watch but I'm still going to give my opinion," the fan posted.

Others highlighted previous NBA players who were highly skilled in their craft and set the standard for today's young players.

"What specific skill is he talking about? Shooting? Okay, sure. But it's crazy to say that guys back then had no real skill when big men had post-moves, footwork, and fundamentals. Was Hakeem not skilled? No, they're just different skills," the fan posted.

"The Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill disrespect ...," the fan posted.

The comparison of the skill level between past and present eras has been an ongoing debate among fans and even NBA players, and Edwards' comments could spark even more discussions.

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Anthony Edwards wants the Michael Jordan comparisons to be put to a halt

The similarities are visible for some people when it comes to Anthony Edwards and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. From their competitive nature on the court to their shotmaking ability, many see the 23-year-old as the next face of the league.

However, Edwards is not too fond of being compared to Jordan, as per his comments on FOX Sports.

"I want it to stop," Edwards said. "He's the greatest of all time. I can't be compared to him."

Anthony Edwards for USA Basketball Men's Olympic Basketball Team - Source: Imagn

Despite being one of the best players in the league today, Edwards understands the kind of player Jordan was and that he still has a long way to go before he reaches his level.

Anthony Edwards finished last season with averages of 25.9 points (46.1% shooting, including 35.7% from three-point range), 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.