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Magic Johnson hammers Anthony Edwards in response to 'no skill' claim

The five-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer delivered a powerful response to the 23-year-old Timberwolves star.
Joe Nelson|
Mar 23, 2018; Omaha, NE, USA; NBA former player Magic Johnson watches during the first half between the Clemson Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2018; Omaha, NE, USA; NBA former player Magic Johnson watches during the first half between the Clemson Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks in the semifinals of the Midwest regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports | Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards has admitted that he didn't watch much basketball outside of Kevin Durant's games while growing up because he was so into football as a kid, but that didn't prevent him from making a bold statement about the Michael Jordan era and his big opinion has led to a scalding return message from Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

First, here's what Edwards said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal about the Jordan era.

“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it,” Edwards began “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? So that’s why when they saw Kobe [Bryant], they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill."

Johnson, who went to 12 All-Star Games and won league MVP and Finals MVP three times apiece, fired back when Stephen A. Smith presented him an opportunity in front of a live audience at a greater Los Angeles area casino.

“I never respond to a guy who’s never won a championship,” Johnson said. “He didn’t win a college championship, I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”

Edwards, by the way, did win a state championship in high school. It was during his junior year when he led Atlanta-based Holy Spirit Prep to the Georgia Independent School Association 3A title.

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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Joe Nelson has more than 20 years of experience in Minnesota sports journalism. Nelson began his career in sports radio, working at smaller stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before moving to the highly-rated KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. While there, he produced the popular mid-morning show hosted by Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen. His time in radio laid the groundwork for his transition to sports writing in 2011. He covers the Vikings, Timberwolves, Gophers and Twins for On SI.

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