Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George took some issue with how Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards characterized the state of the NBA during the height of the Michael Jordan era.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal’s Lane Florsheim, Edwards said that “I don’t think anybody had skill back then,” before clarifying Jordan “was the only one that really had skill.”
“I get what he was trying to say,” the nine-time All-Star said at the 26:50 mark. “But I don’t get what he was trying to say.”
George added that Edwards’ opinion was “kind of disrespectful to the game” and “a very immature comment.” He said younger players have a duty to pay some deference to the legends who came before them.
Edwards’ remarks illustrate why comparing eras is an exercise you should avoid for the most part. It hearkens back to when JJ Redick quipped Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy was competing against “plumbers and firemen” in the 1950s and ’60s, something that didn’t sit well with Hall of Famer Jerry West.
“I just think it’s very disrespectful”
Jerry West is the latest NBA legend to chime in on the J.J. Redick/Bob Cousy “plumbers and firemen” conversation@TermineRadio | @jumpshot8
pic.twitter.com/0UN0r7LbNS— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 22, 2022
Athletes are a product of their era in a number of respects, chief among them how the sport was actually played.
In the case of the NBA during Jordan’s career, the players may have looked less skilled because the game was a lot slower and more physical back then. Defenders could hand-check on the perimeter and there were bona fide enforcers sitting around the basket ready to bludgeon anybody driving to the basket. Offenses also revolved much more so around centers, which clogged the lane for athletic guards.
The league went out of its way to create a more entertaining product by eliminating hand-checking and cracking down on excessive contact. At the schematic level as well, teams eventually discovered that pushing the tempo and spacing the floor was an optimal way to play on offense.
Fast forward 10 or 20 years and the NBA will probably look a lot different from how it is now and the stars of that era will think the way Edwards plays is antiquated by comparison.
