We’re currently in the doldrums of the NBA offseason. As such, every questionable stance that’s aired on podcasts and interviews tends to be amplified. Last week, it was Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards who started the ball rolling In a stance that drew the ire of Magic Johnson, Edwards said no player who played in the 1990s had any “talent” other than Michael Jordan. It’s a change of pace from the usual view that today’s stars of the game can’t survive their bygone era – which Kevin Garnett is convinced of.
Garnet, in response to the current Timberwolves star, he fired back and said that the style of play that Edwards and the rest of the league’s stars are accustomed to these days wouldn’t work in his era.
“To be honest, man, I don’t think anybody in this generation could have played like they did 20 years ago,” Garnett said on the latest episode of Ticket & The Truth. “20 years ago, man, you couldn’t take a three-step back. You hear what I’m saying? You couldn’t take a three-step back. And then if you shot that shit, it had to go in. You know why? Because back then, we were efficient, man, and it was so hard.”
Kevin Garnett then echoed another common view among retired NBA players. The Timberwolves legend said the game was just too physical back then and today’s stars would fall apart.
“It was too physical, and guess what? The league had to stop to get the pace of the game up, which is why we love sitting here and watching the high-tempo game going on right now,” Garnett added.
At this rate, it seems impossible to bridge the gap between the new generation and the old ones. Kevin Garnett is a huge fan of Anthony Edwards, which he has made clear on numerous occasions, and yet he still discredits how the current Timberwolves star’s talent could have been used back in the day.
Analyzing Statements From Two Timberwolves Icons
Ultimately, it’s hard to agree with Anthony Edwards or Kevin Garnett. Edwards has a lot to say and everything that comes out of his mouth is convincing, but he was exaggerating when he said that no player of that era, other than Michael Jordan, had any talent. The game has come a long way since its inception in 1891 and these legends of the game paved the way, in terms of talent, for those who carry the torch of the sport. That in itself deserves respect and Edwards’ statement was over the top.
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Magic Johnson, in particular, felt irritated by Edwards’ statementJohnson said he doesn’t listen to the opinions of someone who hasn’t won a championship at any level, which is a harsh, but perhaps justified, response to the Timberwolves star’s ill-informed opinion.
But that doesn’t mean Kevin Garnett is right, either. Edwards’ athleticism would have made him a one-hit wonder if he played in the mid-2000s, and it’s not like he’s a one-shot talent and can only shoot jump shots. He can also get to the basket and finish strong once he gets there, and he has the physical tools to survive what Garnett considers a physical era.
But then again, we’re in the middle of the offseason. With not much happening in the league, every incident tends to be magnified, which is the case here.
