Despite Playing With Michael Jordan, Ex Teammate Supports Anthony Edwards in Controversial Take Against MJ & Kobe Bryant

The NBA’s history is filled with examples of leadership disagreements that have shaped team dynamics and individual careers. In 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship aspirations crumbled as tensions between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant reached the boiling point leading to O’Neal’s departure. Years later, LeBron James faced scrutiny for his leadership approach during his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, with some teammates questioning his commitment to the team’s success. Now Gilbert Arenas has again ignited a controversy on the same narrative which involves players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Anthony Edwards.

In the latest episode of the ‘Gil’s Arena podcast’ one of the show’s hosts, Josiah Johnson, brought up a comment by Anthony Edwards, on how a leader should react toward his players. This started a debate during the podcast with Kenyon Martin and Rashad McCants, saying that Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were the real leaders. However, having played alongside Jordan in a camp in 1998, Arenas nodded to Ant-Man’s take.

“Leadership is different. Like what was Magic Johnson’s leadership? Did he cuss people out? We don’t know. There is Steph Curry. Did he cuss people out? I’m pretty sure Jokic said nothing to nobody,” said Arenas on the podcast.

During an exclusive interview with Chris Tucker of  ‘The Interview Magazine’, Edwards was asked if he looked up to how Jordan and Kobe treated their teammates. The 23-year-old rapidly responded that he was never a fan of both the legends. “I can agree to disagree because in today’s game, everybody’s different. You can’t talk to everybody the same. You got to talk to players differently. Certain players can take it. I talk to some of my teammates like, ‘Hey, get your s**t together’. But some players, you got to go talk to them on the side. You can’t really cuss them out in front of everybody,” said Edwards during the interview.

According to Arenas, the approach taken by these basketball legends was similar to forced leadership. He argued that their method required all players to conform to their intense, uncompromising mentality, regardless of individual differences or needs.

“Do you think this is a great leader? If I have fifteen players on my team or just I have a tribe of something and only four or five make it to the finish line. Because they understood, they listened to my voice. That is a great leader to you?” said Arenas during the podcast.

Bryant and Jordan were known not only for their exceptional athleticism but also for their fierce leadership. Jordan’s infamous “Flu Game” performance, where he played through a severe illness to lead the Chicago Bulls to victory, is a testament to his indomitable spirit. Bryant, too, demonstrated his leadership qualities on numerous occasions, such as when he rallied the Los Angeles Lakers to multiple championships despite facing problems from his teammates. However, Jordan was known for his trash-talking during the ’90s while playing the Detroit Pistons.

Likewise, Bryant’s fierce leadership was evident when he snubbed at Jeremy Lin for not meeting his expectations. “You ain’t go s**t on me,” said Jordan to Lin in 2015 during practice. This attitude, according to Anthony and Arenas, is not right.

As the debate continues, it’s clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to leadership in professional basketball. Arenas’ comments serve as a reminder that the sport is always changing, both in-game and beyond. However, even though Arenas didn’t take the side of his ex-teammate here, previously he had lauded him.

When Gilbert Arenas had praised Michael Jordan for his athleticism

The former NBA star, known for his scoring prowess and flamboyant style, has often admired Michael Jordan. During a podcast, Arenas had compared and praised Jordan’s athleticism to other legends of his era.

Arenas had highlighted Jordan’s exceptional physical attributes, including his speed, leaping ability, and strength. “Jordan is a 10. It’s like a car. All of Jordan’s competition in that era did not even have the physical tools to keep up with him. So he was basically a Bugatti, and everybody else was a Honda Civic. All the shooting guards were 6’4″, they had no jumping ability, so who he went against, they weren’t talented. Meaning they weren’t athletic enough to keep up with him,” said Arenas during the podcast.

While other players in Jordan’s era were also highly athletic, Arenas has consistently maintained that Jordan was on a different level. It is also quite understandable why Arenas chose Jordan. Throughout his career, His Airness won numerous accolades, including six championship rings and 14 All-Star appearances, which makes him superior to other players. Arenas’ praise for Jordan’s athleticism has solidified his reputation as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

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