There is only one Michael Jordan. But now there is another guy in the league who… well resembles him a lot
When Michael Jordan calls a young NBA player “special,” it’s a signal to pay close attention. Anthony Edwards, the 22-year-old guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, has already defeated Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic in the playoffs.
Now, Edwards faces Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals, with the NBA Finals on the horizon. (Mavs won game 1 in Minnesota and lead the series 1-0)
Jordan’s early praise for Edwards highlighted his athleticism and confidence. Edwards is averaging 28.9 points on 50.4 percent shooting in the playoffs, leading the best Timberwolves team in two decades.
This is the player that reminds him of himself more than anyone since Kobe “That brother is special,” Jordan told ESPN in April. He also told Fox Sports he sees some of his own aggressive playing style in Edwards, including his no-holds-barred trash talking.
Edwards swept Durant’s Phoenix Suns and secured a Game 7 road win over Jokic and the defending champion Nuggets. While Karl-Anthony Towns was expected to be the Timberwolves’ franchise face, “Ant-Man” has emerged as the standout name this postseason.
This season marks the first time since 2005 that the conference semifinals didn’t feature LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Durant.
Edwards posted on Instagram, “In Dat Mode. #LockIn.”
Edwards once told an interviewer that he could excel at anything, whether it’s tennis, swimming, hockey, or cooking. “Whatever you need me to do,” he said. “I bet I’ll be A1 from day one.”
