Philadelphia 76ers superstar Paul George recently criticized Anthony Edwards for his remark about Michael Jordan being the only player with real skill in past eras, labeling the comment as “immature.”
George shared his thoughts on the matter during an episode of his Podcast P.
He expressed disappointment in Edwards’ statement, considering it disrespectful to the history of the game and the players who paved the way.
“I thought it was kind of disrespectful to the game,” George remarked, pointing out that Edwards’ comment didn’t acknowledge the contributions of legendary players from earlier generations.
He emphasized that Edwards, despite being a young and talented player, showed a lack of understanding about the game’s evolution and the efforts of past greats.
“Obviously, Anthony Edwards is super talented and is a huge talent going forward, but just how much the game has grown… you got to pay dues to those dudes that did it before us,” George added.
George also noted that there is often a disconnect between the current generation of players and their knowledge of basketball history.
He mentioned that many young players today might not fully appreciate the impact of icons like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, who were instrumental in shaping the sport.
However, George speculated that Edwards might have been trying to draw a comparison between Michael Jordan’s style of play and the modern era.
“Because obviously, MJ is moving how guys move in this era today,” George said, suggesting that Edwards was likely referring to Jordan’s athleticism and ability to adapt his game in a way that resonates with today’s players.
Edwards admitted that he hadn’t watched much basketball “back in the day,” but he confidently stated that players from earlier eras lacked the skill level seen in today’s game.
