ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith took aim at Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards’ comment that Michael Jordan was the only talented player of previous NBA eras.
During his rant, Smith praised legendary Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mark Price as one of the players who paved the way for future generations.
“Adrian Dantley was a talented player,” Smith said. “Okay? Let’s be clear: Charles Barkley is one of the best forwards in the history of basketball. We can blame him for not winning a championship.”
Shannon Sharpe interrupted Smith to tell him what a great rebounder Barkley is before the ESPN analyst continued with his comments about previous eras of basketball.
“Shawn Kemp, that wasn’t skill?” Smith said. “You know what I mean? Gary Payton, that wasn’t skill? I mean, think about it. Listen, I’d go back to Mark Price for God’s sake. From Georgia Tech, playing in Cleveland all those years, wasn’t that brother talented? Allan Houston wasn’t talented? Larry Johnson wasn’t talented? (Patrick) Ewing wasn’t talented? I mean, wait a minute. There were a whole lot of ballers. There were a whole lot of very talented guys playing. The skill level may be higher now, but would you have known what you were supposed to be, Ant Man, if it weren’t for the pioneers who paved the way and gave you an idea of what you could be?”
Price, a four-time All-Star, played for the Cavs from the 1986-87 season through the 1994-95 season. After his time in Cleveland, Price played for the Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards), Golden State Warriors and Orlando Magic.
Price finished in the top 10 in MVP voting four times during his career and finished his career with career averages of 15.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the three-point line.
It’s nice to see Smith recognize Price as one of the players who paved the way in his era, especially since the Cavs guard was a standout 3-point shooter during his career.
Edwards’ comments about previous NBA eras drew much criticism, including from Los Angeles Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
“You know, I never respond to a guy who has never won a championship,” Johnson said in response to Edwards’ comments. “There’s nothing to say, really. He hasn’t won a college championship. I don’t even know if he’s won a high school championship.”
Edwards, a former first-round pick, has quickly emerged as one of the NBA’s better young players. He led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season, but they lost that series to the Dallas Mavericks.
Hopefully Edwards is aware of how many great players – like Price – came before him in the NBA, paving the way for his success in today’s era.
