Dominique Wilkins Says All NBA Eras Deserve Respect: ‘Don’t Use The Past To Elevate Yourself’

Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins was known as “The Human Highlight Film” for his 48-inch vertical and penchant for throwing it down. Without a doubt, he’s one of the nastiest dunkers the game has ever seen.

And he would be that way if prime Wilkins played today.

So when Wilkins hears today’s NBA players comparing those from his era of the 1980s and ’90s … well, he very clearly doesn’t want to hear it.

“You know what? We give all eras their respect,” Wilkins said on the All The Smoke podcast. “Because we had to learn from somebody, right? So we learned from the guys before us. So we always appreciate basketball and everything. …The one thing we will say is that it’s their time. We’ve had our time.

“But I hate when they try to s*** on us just to prove their point. They don’t have to do that. You know? Because great is great. I don’t care what era you’re in, but don’t use past eras to elevate yourself because we never did that to guys.”

Wilkins was likely referring to comments from Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who recently suggested that Michael Jordan was the only player with real skill in his era.

Those comments from Edwards have received strong backlash from players of Wilkins’ era, as well as some players from today.

“I thought it was a kind of disrespectful to the game,” Philadelphia 76ers foward Paul George said on his Podcast P pod. “I thought it was a very immature comment. 

“Obviously Anthony Edwards is super talented and is a huge talent going forward, but just how much the game has grown and how far like you got to pay dues to those dudes that did it before us. And I think that’s just where the translation between that era and his era…

“They don’t really know you know too much of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird … But I think his comment was more so geared towards like… Because obviously MJ is moving how guys move in this era today, so I think that was kind of like where he was going with it, as far as the movement and the explosiveness the athleticism and being able to contort your body.”

If you missed it, here’s what Edwards said during an interview with The Wall Street Journal:

“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it,” Edwards said of the Jordan era. “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.”

Magic Johnson also recently called out Edwards for the comments.

“I don’t never respond to a guy that’s never won a championship,” Johnson told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “There’s not nothing to really say. He didn’t win a college championship. I don’t even know if he won a high school championship.”

“It’s their time. We’ve had our time. But I hate when they try to sh*t on us just to prove their point.”

ALL THE SMOKE returns this Thursday with Dominique Wilkins.

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— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) September 3, 2024