Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is quickly emerging as one of the best guards in basketball, but it’s still too early to start comparing him to the great Michael Jordan. In a sit-down with Complex, Edwards set the record straight on the Jordan comps and explained why it’s unfair for people to put him on the same level as one of the greatest of all time.
“I just want them to stop. He’s the greatest to ever play basketball. And I’m so far from it.” Interestingly, Edwards also believes that Jordan would have no chance of guarding him if they met on the court in today’s era. “Hell nah! No,” said Edwards. “I just don’t think he can guard me. He’s gonna do his thing but it’s gonna be a tough night…”
Anthony Edwards on MJ comparisons: "I just want them to stop. He's the greatest to ever play basketball. And I'm so far from it." @Complex: "Could MJ guard you?"
Anthony Edwards: "Hell nah! No." pic.twitter.com/lywMR4zqoE
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 14, 2023
In the wake of Ja Morant’s viral “we’re fine in the West” comments, Ant knew to play it safe here and keep his answer grounded in humility. As great as the Wolves star has been early on, he’s not close to the level of Michael Jordan and still has a lot to prove before anyone can even call him the best payer in the league. At the very least, though, we can confirm that Ant has the same heart, passion, and grit that all legends require to be great.
Edwards Vs. Jordan
While Edwards is still just 22 years old, he’s already in his fourth season in the league averaging 24.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for a Timberwolves team that has been the best in the West so far. Comparatively, Jordan was averaging 35.0 points in his fourth season, complete with 3.2 steals and 5.9 assists per game on 53% shooting. So, when you look at the numbers, Jordan was just at another level compared to where Edwards is right now. But as arguably the greatest player of all time, Jordan has the highest bar possible in the NBA and it’s unfair to hold Ant, or anyone else, to that level of greatness.
Of course, not even MJ was able to win titles right away. It took years for the Bulls to build a complete roster around him and it wasn’t until the 1990-1991 season that they finally broke the seal and made their mark on history. For Edwards, the jury is still out on his star potential in the NBA but he still has more than enough time to live up to expectations as the face of the franchise. Clearly, Edwards himself is more than up for the task of joining the ranks of basketball legends.
Timberwolves Are A Rising Beast
At 17-5 on the season, the Timberwolves have been the best team in the league so far and it’s a situation that nobody saw coming. Besides the ascension of Edwards, who has dealt with some injuries this season, Minnesota has found its identity behind the play of Rudy Gobert, who is having a resurgence as one of the best rim protectors in the game. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns has finally found a rhythm with Gobert in the frontcourt and is in the middle of a career shooting season with splits of 50.7/42.6/89.8%.
Ultimately, the key to success rests on the shoulders of Edwards. At 22 years old, he’s the future of the Wolves and he’s the kind of young star with the potential to become a living legend. But until he starts to win in the postseason, Edwards will never be respected like Jordan was, or how LeBron and Stephen Curry are today as pioneers of the sport.
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