NBA legend Dominique Wilkins has responded to recent comments by Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who suggested that Michael Jordan was the only player from the past with genuine skill.
Wilkins, speaking on the All the Smoke podcast, expressed frustration with Edwards’ remarks, stating, “I hate when they try to sh*t on us just to prove their point.”
Edwards had previously stated that he didn’t watch basketball from earlier eras and felt that players from those times lacked the skill present in today’s game. He specifically named Jordan as the only player from the past who truly had skill.
Wilkins criticized this perspective, emphasizing the importance of respecting all eras of basketball. He said, “We give all eras their respect because we had to learn from somebody, right? So we learned from the guys before us.”
The Hall of Famer added that while the current generation of players is impressive, it shouldn’t come at the expense of past greats. Wilkins stated, “Great is great, I don’t care what era you’re in. But don’t use past eras to elevate yourself.
“Because we never did that to guys like, look, I’m never gonna say I’m better than Wilt Chamberlain or [Bill] Russell.”
Wilkins also reflected on his own experiences, noting his admiration for earlier legends such as Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He remarked, “I never thought that I was bigger than the game because nobody’s bigger than the game because it’s always one coming behind you.”
Edwards’ comments have sparked a broader discussion about the evolution of basketball and the comparisons between different generations.
