With the Minnesota Timberwolves laying claim to a 2-0 series lead over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals, Anthony Edwards has emerged as one of the NBA’s biggest stars.
So much so that the fourth-year guard has begun to draw comparisons to Michael Jordan, who is still widely considered by many to be the greatest player of all time.
Speaking with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, the Georgia product addressed the comparison and why he’s not a fan of it. But while Edwards clearly reveres “Air Jordan,” he also took swipe — intentionally or not — at the six-time NBA champion by mentioning one of the areas of his game that Jordan seemingly lacked.
“I want people to be like, ‘This Anthony Edwards kid, he’s got his own style. He’s maybe got a mix of Michael Jordan in him,'” Edwards said. “But I’ve got a trey ball, I can shoot the three. So, I think that makes me a little different than Michael Jordan.”
To Edwards’ point, Jordan wasn’t known for his 3-point prowess, as the four-time MVP attempted more than two 3-point shots per game in just four of his 15 seasons in the NBA. Meanwhile, Edwards has averaged 7.4 3-point attempts per game through his first four seasons in the league, making his shot from downtown at a 35.3 percent clip.
Of course, Edwards plays at a time in which 3-point shooting has become more prevalent and it’s fair to wonder how Jordan’s game would have aged in the modern era. Hence why it’s not fair to Edwards — or Jordan — to make the comparison, as the two played in vastly different eras.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.