Over the years, fans have gotten used to new NBA superstars emerging every season. However, some critics still believe in the argument that most of today’s players wouldn’t have been able to survive in the pre-2000s era. Meanwhile, there is also a major chunk of audience that believes the modern NBA has far more skilled athletes as opposed to the older generation which relied heavily on their physicality. But which side is Anthony Edwards on?
During a recent interview, the Wolves star revealed a key difference in both generations while taking an inadvertent dig at the legends who paved the way, “I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it. 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.” Although everyone is aware of the greatness of MJ, was he the only skilled superstar back in the day? Well, here are five more legends who could nullify Ant-Man’s claim:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Yes, long before MJ took over with his air time, the world used to marvel at the towering figure of Kareem. In an era when the league did not even have a three-point line, the ‘Captain’ became one of the most lethal scorers and broke all records. His weapon of choice? The sky hook shot. The move that is regarded by many as the most unguardable move ever created is yet to be perfectly replicated by the players who stepped on the court after Kareem. Despite beginning his pro career at the age of 22, four years older than LeBron was when he got drafted, Kareem finished with 38,387 points and held the scoring record for nearly four decades, that too without hitting a single three in his career. Imagine what his numbers would have been had he turned pro as a teenager.
Magic Johnson
As the league was craving for a new superstar to emerge, along came a young kid with the brightest smile ever. People called him Magic and he showed why on the court. In his rookie year, he led the Lakers to a championship in the most heroic manner possible. While the star of the team Kareem was forced to sit out during the finals due to an ankle injury, Magic miraculously switched from point guard to Center position in the final game and got the job done. Sure enough, everyone realized that the kid was destined for greatness. Then, he was the reason the Lakers became known as Showtime as Magic’s insane playmaking ability and flashy passes paved way for a kind of offense no one had ever seen before. Although it has been decades since he retired, many people still consider Magic the greatest point guard ever because he was the complete package of skill and heart.
Larry Bird
When you talk about Magic, you are obligated to mention Larry Bird. Without Bird, there might be no Magic and vice versa. Their rivalry single handedly elevated the league to a wider audience. And as great as Magic was, he was always given a tough time by the Celtics legend. Despite being a lanky forward, Bird was as dominant as they come just by using his versatile skill set. Be it shooting the ball or dishing out dimes to his teammates, there was nothing he could not do on the court. And who can forget the night when he won the three-point contest without even taking off his warmup jacket? But that was the aura and skill that the three-time MVP possessed.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Well, until now we have mentioned the superstars that came before MJ. But there were also some legends who were able to shine even during His Airness’ era. On top of the list might very well be Hakeem Olajuwon. In an era where most big men relied on their huge frame, Hakeem dominated with his elite footwork and post moves. With his unimaginable skillset and deep bag, he was given the name ‘The Dream’ which went very well with his famous move ‘The Dream Shake’. Sure enough, many consider him the most skilled big man to ever touch the ball and you can see shades of his elite footwork in today’s centers like Jokic and Embiid. On top of that, he was one of the few stars who won a title during the Jordan era, that too back-to-back.
Reggie Miller
While many credit Stephen Curry for revolutionizing the league with his insane three-point shooting, people sometimes tend to forget the person who made deep range shooting cool before him. Obviously, we are talking about Pacers’ legend Reggie Miller. In an era when deep range shooting was frowned upon, Miller became a superstar because of how clutch he was from that range during pressure situations. Although he never won a title like others on this list, Reggie played a huge role in the evolution of basketball. He was Curry before Curry. Moreover, he finished his career with 2,560 threes and sat on top of the list for many years. And many wonder what his numbers would be in today’s guard dominant era.
Although Jordan might be the best to ever do it, Edwards’ claim that there was no other skilled player back in the day might be a bit too harsh because there are several legends who would have been dominant in any era. Do you agree?
