Gold medalist and two-time NBA All-Star, Anthony Edwards, shares his hot take on 80’s and 90’s players stating, “They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think that anybody had skill back then. Michael Jordan was the only one that really had skill.”
Although some of that statement is true, there was certainly no shortage of talent in the NBA and even some players that could still hold their own in today’s NBA.
Firstly, let us take a moment to think about players in their prime in the 80’s, I’m sure for many of you, the first player that comes to mind is Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and for good reason! Magic Johnson is considered one of the best point guards of all time, with 5 NBA championships and 3 MVPs, he solidified his name in NBA history.
One of the reasons Magic was so great was his ability to pass the ball and make plays for his teammates to score. Standing at 6’9 he was well above the average point guard’s height, which only made his playmaking even easier to accomplish.
When Magic Johnson retired, he had the highest amount of assist recorded at the time with an amazing 10,141 assist.
While Magic Johnson is proof of a skilled player in the 80’s, what about the 90’s? Scottie Pippen was easily one of the most talented players in the league but was cast aside for the legendary Michael Jordan. In the 1993-1994 season, Michael left the NBA and Scottie was now the number one option, he would then go on to show the NBA how talented he really was.
That season he averaged the most points in his career with 22 points per game and led the Chicago Bulls to 55 wins, only two less than what they had with Michael the season before. While Scottie Pippen was a terrific scorer, what made him special was his defensive attributes, earning All-NBA Defensive team 8 times within his career and led the league in steals in 1995.
These elite basketball players could still play in today’s NBA. Anthony Edwards’ statement on old players is quite critical, but players back then didn’t have access to the technology that players use now to find ways to improve themselves and to take better care of their bodies. It’s only natural that the average athlete has evolved into something better, but that doesn’t mean that the old players, who would go on to inspire generations, didn’t have any skill.
