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[Saba Sports News] Throughout NBA history, countless individual talents have brought unique skill sets to the game, spanning every era since the league’s inception in 1947, well before the Minnesota Timberwolves existed.
Contrary to what some modern media might suggest, skilled players have always been a part of the NBA. A look at the game’s history reveals many unique individuals who have significantly impacted basketball, shaping its evolution.
While not every fan needs to be a history buff, ignoring the past can lead to questionable statements, like the one Anthony Edwards recently made in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
When asked about the differences between modern and past eras, Edwards remarked, “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.”
While it’s arguable that today’s players are more skilled due to modern training, facilities, and nutrition, dismissing the skill of past players is inaccurate. Michael Jordan’s dominance in his era is widely accepted, but this shouldn’t diminish the talent of his peers or the league as a whole from that time.
These kinds of takes are becoming increasingly popular among younger fans, but it’s important for the NBA community to critically assess such claims. Debates about which era was better or more talented will always exist, but tearing down one era to elevate another isn’t the right way to promote the sport’s growth.