For some it is sacrilegious blasphemy, for others the parallels couldn’t be clearer: Anthony Edwards’ game and personality are reminiscent of the best basketball player of all time. His rise to absolute superstardom is complete with these NBA playoffs.
It will remain one of the scenes of these 2024 NBA Playoffs: Anthony Edwards left his opponent Bradley Beal in a cloud of dust after two dribbles through his legs and an explosive start; A few split seconds later he had already taken off from the edge of the zone towards the basket, where he delivered a spectacular and devastating tomahawk dunk over the heads of superstar Kevin Durant and the collective Suns psyche. It was the thunderous exclamation point behind a sensational 4-0 sweep against Phoenix – the team against which the Minnesota Timberwolves had not managed a single win this season.
Just a few days earlier, “Ant” Edwards had pushed a decisive three-pointer into the face of his favorite player, Durant, and his animated “Trash Talk” afterwards went around the world. The aging superstar couldn’t help but smile and pay respect to the newcomer. “I’m so impressed with him. He’s my favorite player of all time. He’s made incredible progress since he came into the league. His love for the game outshines everything.”
Edwards’ regular playing time was All-Star worthy, with 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per night leading the Timberwolves to 56 wins and their best regular season in 20 years. He finished seventh in the MVP voting and is considered a sure candidate for one of the three All-NBA teams. In these playoffs, however, “Ant” has shifted up at least two extra gears. Gears that most people didn’t know he already had ready. Three games with 40 points or more, five times 30-plus, an average of 30.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists with 54 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three-point line – these are absolutely elite values that set him catapulted straight into the highest NBA firmament.
He is the fourth-best scorer and ninth-best preparer this postseason. His rise to one of the five best players in the entire playoffs, even at such a tender age, is strongly reminiscent of the evolution of Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, who also made the leap to megastar status at the age of 22 and 23 respectively. It is the postseason that turns top players into absolute superstars. And Anthony Edwards is now one ahead of them.
The next “Air” Jordan?
Minnesota’s sweep of Phoenix was the northern team’s first won playoff series since 2004. At that time, Hall of Famer and MVP Kevin Garnett played for the Wolves, who only lost to Bryant’s Lakers in the Conference Finals. Garnett spoke for the first time in a podcast in February, which more and more observers also felt and expressed over time: “He’s like a young ’84 Jordan,” said “KG”, referring to Jordan’s start to his career in the NBA. Since then, more and more statements have been making the rounds that mention Edwards and the best basketball player of all time in the same breath. And while this may border on blasphemy for some, the parallels are in fact obvious.
Both are just under two meters tall (Edwards is 1.95 meters, Jordan is 1.98), explosive, leaping, ultra-athletic and devastating on both ends. As soon as the movement towards the basket starts, the opponents are on high alert, and they often look old even with two or three defenders. Like Jordan, Edwards also brings more than just overwhelming talent. He also has the personality, the disarming smile and charm, the endless confidence and showmanlike demeanor of a total alpha player. He trains like a man possessed, his killer instinct, leadership skills and winner mentality infecting everyone around him. The Wolves have finally become “his team” this season and have internalized his aura.
Edwards himself still seems torn when he hears the comparisons to Jordan. He told ESPN: “I love that they have such confidence in me. They’re not wrong. But I don’t want to be compared to someone of that caliber. I mean, I haven’t accomplished anything at his level yet.” In an interview in December, he asked: “Stop comparing me to Michael Jordan. Because he’s the greatest to ever play basketball and I’m far from that. Not even close. I just wish it would stop .”
At least “Ant” can now relate to Garnett’s comparison: “I think he’s definitely right. ’84 Jordan. He didn’t say ‘1996, 1997’. He said 1984 – [ein Punkt in seiner Karriere, an dem] Jordan finds himself. I agree with that.” According to veteran journalist Chris Broussard, a good friend of Michael Jordan, even Jordan himself is said to have recently spoken out. “Today I spoke to the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan,” said Broussard Recently. “And Jordan said he sees similarities in their game. When Jordan says there is common ground, then there is common ground.”
Cash cow and American figurehead
Edwards’ meteoric rise is an absolute blessing for the NBA. The league is currently doing everything it can to capture the attention of a new generation of fans. Negotiations on a new multi-billion dollar media deal are nearing completion. It’s about the best possible marketing of your own product – and a lot of money. But the question remains: Who will be the new face of the league? LeBron James (39), Steph Curry (36) and Kevin Durant (35) are about to take their last ride into the sunset, their brilliant Hall of Fame careers about to end.
The USA is desperately looking for a local successor because the best players in the world are currently all Europeans. Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic dominate, Victor Wembanyama has already forced himself into the conversation of the next flagship of the National Basketball Association after his rookie season. Edwards is seen as a cure for the inferiority complex of Americans who still see this sport as “theirs” – even though they have long since lost their global supremacy. Already in the embarrassing failure during the last Basketball World Cup in 2023 in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, where Germany won the gold medal, Edwards was the only US player to perform respectably despite being only 21 years old. US coach Steve Kerr said back then that Edwards had “it” – that certain something.
Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker and Jalen Brunson, veritable top-15 players, all lack the charisma of a global superstar. Edwards brings the full package. Off the floor, he is approachable and down-to-earth, his charisma captivating both as an ambassador for a world-famous beverage brand, an actor in Hollywood or the owner of the hottest basketball sneaker on the market. On the floor, however, he tears his opponents’ heads off with a smile on his face – and produces more social media highlights than any other player in the league.
Just “Ant”
The Minnesota Timberwolves have their backs against the wall in these Western Conference Semifinals. Denver has won three games in a row and can make it into the conference finals on Friday night. Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets impressively prove why they are the reigning champions – and Edwards’ nemesis. For the moment. The youngster and his Wolves already failed at Denver last year. This season, Minnesota has been much improved thanks to the league’s best defense and Edwards’ rise to superstardom. The fact that it might not be enough again against the now three-time MVP Jokic and his team is one of the brutal laws of nature in the NBA.
At this level, the smallest details matter. Edwards is ready for this stage, having already scored 43 and 44 points against Denver in five games so far, for a phenomenal 30.2 points on average. Unfortunately, those around him are unable to effectively use the extra attention he receives. These are also necessary steps on the ladder of success, painful lessons that are taught on the way to the top. Lessons that Jordan and LeBron James also had to learn before. Jordan failed for years at the brutal Detroit Pistons, James at the ripped-off Boston Celtics. Only when they were physically and mentally mature and surrounded by competent teammates who could follow their lead did they make their breakthrough to become champions.
Edwards’ rise to become the NBA’s new superstar and crowd favorite will be complete with these playoffs at the latest. Now comes the hard part – and with it the part that clearly distinguishes him from Jordan: the rings, the MVP trophies, the pure dominance. “His Airness” had won six championships, six finals MVPs and five MVPs at the end of his unprecedented career. Can “Ant-Man” one day follow in these footsteps? Does he even have to?
At the age of 22, his name and his future are already shining so brightly that it’s not just teammate Karl-Anthony Towns who “needs sunglasses.” So maybe it’s better if the ghost of the “GOAT,” Michael Jordan, just quietly flies along whenever Edwards plays basketball. And he makes his own name among the best of all time. “Ant-Man” recently explained: “I want people to say: This boy, Anthony Edwards, has a bit of a Michael Jordan look to him. But he has his own style.”