Michael Jordan admits there are similarities between his younger self and Anthony Edwards.
Yong star Anthony Edwards has officially received the stamp of approval from the NBA’s GOAT. In view of the Timberwolves star, Michael Jordan allegedly told NBA insider Chris Broussard that there are some noticeable similarities in their game.
“I reached out to the GOAT today, he said there are similarities in their game,” said Chris Broussard on First Thing’s First. “He agreed. If Jordan says there are similarities, then there are similarities.”
Michael Jordan did not win titles right away, but he was a star from the very beginning. After winning Rookie of the Year in 1985, he cemented himself as a basketball superstar by his early 20s, when he averaged over 32 points per game for the Bulls.
Today, six championships and over 20 years later, Jordan has become a legend in the NBA and the most common choice among fans and players as the greatest of all time. So far, nobody has been able to match the early dominance of Jordan but Edwards is arguably the closest thing we have today.
Drafted with the first overall pick in 2020, Edwards was an easy choice for the Timberwolves and he continues to show why the scouts were so high on him. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, Edwards is an ideal size for a modern shooting guard and he’s found massive success on both sides of the court.
With one of the highest vertical leaps in recent NBA history, Edwards’ athleticism is comparable only with the likes of Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and other high-flyers. His competitive edge is also very similar to the one Michael used to play with on the court, the same one that made him famous for having the ultimate winner’s mentality.
But while the similarities are evident, Edwards needs more on his resume if he’s to compare with Michael Jordan and other all-time greats. The Timberwolves just haven’t been good enough so far and Ant will have to change that if he wants his career to hold up with the greats.
When Will Edwards Win His First Ring?
The Michael Jordan comparisons have been going on for a while now, long before Jordan himself acknowledged them. For months now, various former players, scouts, and fans have likened Edwards to a modern-day Jordan for his playstyle, athleticism, and mental approach to the game.
At just 22 years old, Edwards still has a lot of time to prove himself. As good as Jordan was, he didn’t win a championship until he was 27 years old, after seven regular season campaigns with the Bulls. It took him years and many losses to get to the Finals but he didn’t look back once it was his time to shine.
So far, Edwards hasn’t come close to winning the title and he’s not on track to outpace Jordan. Since his career began, the Timberwolves have been more of an afterthought in the West than anything else and they have yet to win a single playoff series.
As the 2nd seed in the West this season, this could be the year that the Timberwolves shave their breakout moment but it’s something that most fans will have to see to believe. For a franchise with such historically bad luck, the odds will surely be stacked against them this spring. But if Edwards is even close to as good as he thinks he is, Minnesota cannot be counted out against any team this year.
