Stephen A. Smith doesn’t usually stand for ’90s slander. And he did have a strong response to Anthony Edwards’ recent remarks on First Take. But he also chalked it to his youth and appealed for fans to go easy on him. After all, the ESPN veteran does see a bit of Vince Carter’s dunking showmanship along with the Jordan-esque qualities in Ant. In fact, Antman’s given so many veterans throwbacks to watching their faves in the ’90s. Many of them, like Nick Young, don’t think it warrants dismissing others besides Michael Jordan.

SwaggyP, who once firmly claimed that Edwards has the potential to surpass MJ, wrote on X on Thursday, “Nobody in any era doing the dunks kemp and Vince was doing in game.” During the playoffs, Young was sure Ant would “move MJ to 3″ in the GOAT debate one day and that opinion hasn’t changed. But he’s got to embody a few more ’90s greats than just the GOAT.

Stephen A. Smith certainly thinks so. After the newly-minted Olympic gold-medalist said, “I don’t think anybody had skill back then,” Smith said “Forgive the young buck for what he does not know.” Contrary to how he sounded, he wasn’t as merciful though.

He went on a rant about all the greats Edwards has not seen play while admitting it’s understandable why. He listed everyone from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain to Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, who played before Ant’s era. He elaborated on their showmanship but one player who Young looks up to got a special mention.

“By the way, let me not forget, even before Kobe Bryant there’s a guy by the name of Vince Carter, the best in-game dunker in the history of basketball,” Smith said. Less than a year ago, Smith wrote on X, “I see Vince Carter…Kobe…MJ in Anthony Edwards.” It didn’t sound as outlandish as Young’s claim, but both can’t leave out the headliner of the 2024 Hall of Fame class.

Antman gives NBA veterans nostalgia

Smith not only pitched Carter a little above Kobe, he thinks Ant could benefit from studying Carter. “As phenomenal as Ant Edwards is and is going to be, even with his best dunks, I would ask Anthony Edwards to go back and watch Vince carter dunk during a game. Watch the show this brother put on.”

SAS urged Ant to study Tracy McGrady too, Carter’s cousin and the same guy who traumatized Nick Young by dunking over him. He missed out Shawn Kemp on his list, but we’ll blame time constraints for that. And Kemp doesn’t think Ant’s dunks are the spectacle everyone makes it out to be.

Young still believes Ant is the future face of the NBA. And Smith is sure he’d get there too.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.