In a segment on his podcast (The Sheed & Tyler Show), former NBA big man Rasheed Wallace gave his honest opinion of Anthony Edwards. Unlike many in the NBA community, Wallace is not ready to crown Edwards as the next face of the league and still believes he has to prove himself as a leader and elite performer on both ends of the floor.
“At this point in [Anthony Edwards’] career, he’s not better than a Derrick McKey, he’s not better than a Grant Hill, he’s not better than a Scottie Pippen. I’m talking both sides of the ball. Derrick McKey was a defender and he would give you a solid 14, 16, 18 and he was a solid defender. [Ant] Is improving, but he’s not that defender yet.”
"He's [Anthony Edwards] not better than a Derrick McKey, he's not better than a Grant Hill, he's not better than a Scottie Pippen…"
NBA legend Rasheed Wallace on Anthony Edwards & Michael Jordan’s era 👀
⬇️: https://t.co/JOKadqIdn7 pic.twitter.com/n1EbNcMdAz
— The Sheed & Tyler Show (@SheedXTylerShow) September 4, 2024
Edwards recently sparked controversy when he claimed that Bulls legend Michael Jordan was the only player from his era who was “skilled” with the basketball. The statement sparked widespread debate and criticism, especially among former players who claimed that Edwards was disrespecting those who paved the way for his success.
Whether you agree with the take or not, Anthony Edwards doesn’t have the hardware to make such a claim. With only a few years of experience under his belt and no championships, many former players and athletes have condemned Edwards’ comments, and guys like Rasheed Wallace agree that he has a lot more to prove before anyone can consider him a proper superstar.
And while Edwards is no doubt on the right track to stardom, he’s not accomplished enough to dismiss the talents of those who came before him.
As the first overall pick in 2020, Anthony Edwards was projected to be a franchise player from day one. After an impressive rookie campaign, where he averaged 19.3 points per game, Edwards became the face of the Timberwolves and has been ranked among the game’s top players ever since.
In the 2023-24 campaign, Edwards had his best season yet and his confidence has never been higher. En route to his second straight All-Star appearance, he averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 46% shooting. He led the Timberwolves to the 3rd best record in the West at 56 wins and carried them to the Western Conference Finals after series wins over the Suns and Nuggets.
The Timberwolves ultimately lost the Conference Finals to the Dallas Mavericks but it wasn’t long after when Edwards was selected to join Team USA this summer. Despite being just 23 years old, he was a featured member of the rotation and a go-to option for head coach Steve Kerr.
Going into next season, Edwards is equipped to have the best stretch of his career after a historic playoff run and a successful stint for Team USA. The young star is leading early MVP predictions and many stars, analysts, and players already have him ranked as one of the game’s ultra-elite.
Of course, unlike Derrick McKey, Edwards still lacks the defense edge that was so common in 90s basketball. And until he can find balance on both ends of the floor, there will always be room for improvement in his game. And until he can lead the Timberwolves to their first championship, there will always be doubts about whether or not he has what it takes to get it done.
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