There are many opinions about the NBA and its talent level today. It’s safe to say that the modern league is vastly different than it was 30 years ago, but player talent is a more nuanced topic. Minnesota Timberwolves fans will already know that Anthony Edwards recently made a public statement on this topic that most would consider questionable.
Asked about the league during Michael Jordan’s heyday, Ant said he thought Jordan was the only qualified player at the time. This of course attracted a lot of criticism, and many people reacted to his statement.
Perhaps the most notable figure to have participated so far is NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. The 1990 Finals MVP posted on X in response to Anthony Edwards, saying: “Propaganda works, so be careful what you choose to believe.”
Of course, there are varying opinions on this issue, and many will choose to agree or disagree with Thomas. Personally, I tend to agree with his sentiment. The idea that there was no talent in the league outside of Michael Jordan in the 1990s is a completely made-up concept. You could say that MJ was the best player of the decade without demolishing his competition.
Edwards is young, so it’s understandable that he would have this viewpoint given how basketball is discussed on social media in 2024. But as Thomas said, we should have the presence of mind to be able to discern a meme or a common internet belief from reality.
Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Tim Duncan are just a few of the many talented players who played in the 1990s. If we step outside the realm of social media for a moment and use our own free-thinking, this isn’t even a topic of discussion.
