Anthony Edwards Facing Backlash for Controversial Michael Jordan Statement

In this story:
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards went viral earlier this summer for comments he made about Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
"I didn't watch it back in the day so I can't speak on it," Edwards told Lane Florsheim of the Wall Street Journal in August. "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?"
Edwards faced a lot of backlash for these comments from NBA fans, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to speak on Jordan and his era.
Anthony Edwards on the skill growth in the NBA 👀
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 20, 2024
(via Lane Florsheim of the Wall Street Journal) pic.twitter.com/kucLIOGGdk
SportsCenter shared a new statement from Edwards on Jordan that fans have been reacting to.
"I would've been the guy that could match up with MJ,” Edwards said. “That would have been me. I would've been that guy that would've been guarding him, scoring back on him."
This matchup would've been must-see TV 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SmC1czeDPb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 22, 2024
Fans are certainly not convinced of this.
Via @SteveKBark: "I love Edwards confidence, but MJ would cook him."
I love Edwards confidence, but MJ would cook him. pic.twitter.com/0ZZCJc4TF0
— Steve 🤙 (@SteveKBark) October 22, 2024
Via @WuYella: "MJ would’ve cooked bro on both ends of the floor what is he talking about"
MJ would’ve cooked bro on both ends of the floor what is he talking about
— DJTalks (@WuYella) October 22, 2024
Via @JoestarJokic: "gassed guarding Kyrie but could guard MJ"
gassed guarding Kyrie but could guard MJ #okay https://t.co/G9SYvOar1M
— subscribe to the state of the league patreon (@JoestarJokic) October 22, 2024
Via @FallenImpacts: "I love the mentality but MJ was so indefensible the best defenders of the era didn’t even stand a chance most nights"
I love the mentality but MJ was so indefensible the best defenders of the era didn’t even stand a chance most nights
— Fallen ☘️🐻 (@FallenImpacts) October 22, 2024
Edwards and the Timberwolves are playing the Los Angeles Lakers in their NBA season opener on Tuesday night.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.