Minnesota Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett has become the latest Hall of Famer to weigh in on Anthony Edwards’ controversial remarks about the skill level of past NBA eras. Edwards, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, made the bold claim that NBA players from before the 1990s—excluding Michael Jordan—lacked the skill level seen in today’s game. This statement has sparked a wave of reactions from former NBA greats.
Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, two icons who dominated the league just before the ’90s, were among the first to publicly push back against Edwards’ assertion, taking offense to the idea that their era was less skilled. Now, Garnett and Paul Pierce have added their voices to the discussion during a recent episode of the “KG Certified” podcast, where they passionately defended the talent and toughness of players from earlier generations.
Pierce acknowledged that while today’s players may have developed more refined skills, he believes the current era’s approach to basketball is overly individualistic. He emphasized that teamwork and fundamentals, which were hallmarks of past eras, have taken a back seat to personal statistics and highlight reels in today’s game.
Garnett, known for his fiery competitiveness, didn’t hold back either. He suggested that the NBA has become less mature compared to the days when he was playing, pointing to a shift in focus towards personal branding and social media presence rather than the game itself. “The skill level has gotten better,” Pierce conceded, “but I don’t think it makes you a better player overall.”
Garnett took it a step further, arguing that many of today’s players wouldn’t have made it in the NBA 20 years ago, citing the difference in the locker room culture and the overall intensity of the league during his time. “I only think half of these kids in the league could have been on an NBA team 20 years ago,” Garnett remarked. “The locker room was too grown. It was too much of a fraternity. It was a different vibration.”
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He also highlighted the impact of modern rule changes that favor offensive players, allowing them more freedom of movement and, in turn, giving them more opportunities to display their skills. Garnett implied that these changes have altered the game in a way that makes it difficult to compare eras directly.
As Edwards continues to navigate his budding NBA career, it remains to be seen whether the strong responses from legends like Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and now Kevin Garnett will influence his perspective on the history and evolution of the game.
For now, it’s clear that his comments have ignited a debate that transcends generations, touching on how the game has evolved and what truly defines greatness in the NBA.
