Getty Image / Matthew Stockman
With all due respect to the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, the breakout star of the NBA playoffs has been Minnesota Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards. NBA fans already knew how good the 22-year-old is, but the general sports world is finding out, too.
Anthony Edwards has been playing so well that he’s being compared to the legendary Michael Jordan. That’s due not only to his success so far but also his style of play, athleticism competitiveness, and what some would claim is a bit of a physical resemblance.
Anytime a player is getting legitimate comparisons to Michael Jordan, it’s something to discuss. A handful of players have been billed as the “next” Michael Jordan, but no one has truly come close as a carbon copy of him. Some have achieved a lot and are all-time greats, like Kobe Bryant, while plenty flame out early in their careers.
So far, Edwards is on as good of a track as anyone. In his fourth year in the league, he’s established himself as one of the premier players in the league. In the regular season, Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists while playing standout defense on a Timberwolves team that enjoyed its best season since 2003-2004.
He’s been even better in the playoffs. Heading into Friday night’s game 3 against Denver, the Timberwolves are 6-0 so far in the playoffs against the Suns and Nuggets. All Edwards is doing is averaging 32.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 54% shooting from the field and nearly 42% shooting from deep. Those are ridiculous numbers.
And, when you watch some of these highlights, you do see some resemblance to Michael Jordan’s game.
The frame is similar, he has the elite body control and athleticism of Michael Jordan, and he understands how to score from all three levels.
An interview with Anthony Edwards aired on ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday, and he was asked about the Michael Jordan comparisons. Frankly, he didn’t seem too fond of them.
Malika Andrews brought up the comparisons to Michael Jordan and asked Anthony Edwards if he wanted the comparisons to stop.
“Yeah, for sure. He’s one of one man, the greatest of all time for sure. So, yeah, I’m wanting them to stop,” Edwards said.
He was then asked how he wanted to be talked about, and had this to say.
“As Anthony Edwards. Yeah, like the first Anthony Edwards, not the next Michael Jordan. I want people to be like, this Anthony Edwards kid, He got his own style. Like, he maybe got a mix of Michael Jordan in him but you know, I got a trey ball, my trey ball. I can shoot the three. So I think that makes me a little different than Michael Jordan.”
For the record, in the mid 90’s portion of his career as the three-point shot started to become more than a novelty, Michael Jordan turned into a pretty good shooter from deep. He shot around 40% combined in the 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 seasons.
That being said, I think Edwards has his heart in the right place on this one. Constantly being compared to arguably the greatest player of all time would be exhausting. As long as Anthony Edwards stays focused on being the best Anthony Edwards can be, he is going to be an all-time great.
That being said, if the Timberwolves do win their first NBA title this year, the MJ comparisons are only going to grow in intensity.
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