Anthony Edwards is already one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, but some former players believe he’s closer than people think to adding MVP to his resume. On a recent episode of ‘All In,’ Mario Chalmers and Iman Shumpert agreed that Edwards has the tools to win the award within the next three years if he takes a few more steps in his development.
Iman Shumpert: “Anthony Edwards to win MVP in the next three years? You tailing that or fading that?”
Mario Chalmers: “Next three years, I’m tailing that.”
Iman Shumpert: “I like it too, I just need him to learn to play with his back to the basket. He don’t understand how important that is.”
Mario Chalmers: “If he learns how to simplify his game, just one more step…”
Iman Shumpert: “But it’s that double team that bothered him. If he sees it coming and knows how to attack it, where you got your feet offset when you’re chasing in this position, as opposed to being able to slide, oh my lord. He’s going to be so dangerous.”
The MVP race is expected to be competitive over the next few years, with stars such as Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander likely to be top contenders for the award. As the NBA’s reigning MVP, Shai is the favorite for 2026, but Anthony Edwards has a chance to change that if he can raise his game to a higher level.
As two former NBA veterans and champions, both Shumpert and Chalmers have experience playing with superstars and know what greatness looks like. So it carries weight that they predict an MVP season for Edwards within the next three years.
At 24 years old, Ant is still developing his game, and the best is yet to come for his NBA career. He’s already a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player coming off back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals. The 2024-25 campaign was his best one so far, with averages of 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 44.7% shooting.
Going into next season, only time will tell how much he improves, but learning how to deal with double teams would be a great start. He’s complained about being doubled in the past, and it’s been a major obstacle to his development so far. In January, he even called Michael Jordan for advice on how to handle the classic defensive strategy.
The solution for Edwards may lie with post-play. If he can learn to play with his back to the basket, it will make life so much easier for him in terms of controlling the basketball and getting shots off in coverage. Following the path of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, Edwards could use the post to unlock a more dangerous mid-range game. For now, Anthony Edwards ‘shot selection is somewhat limited, and until he can adapt his game, he may never reach his full potential.
If Edwards can add those missing elements, the MVP talk will only grow louder. He already has the talent, the numbers, and the winning pedigree. Now it’s about rounding out the details and proving that he can carry the Timberwolves all the way to the top.
