Anthony Edwards: The next NBA big thing?

Few days ago Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the reigning champions, Denver Nuggets after a hard-fought 7 game series and advanced to their first conference finals since 2005.

After almost 20 years, Timberwolves are a legetimate threat and a serious championship contender. The days that Timberwolves were a laughing stock in the NBA are long gone.

How a franchise who used to make all the wrong moves, wasted draft picks, bad trades and signings for almost two decades, is in this winning position?

Is their success pure luck? Of course not. Timberwolves success has a name: Anthony Edwards. Is it possible for a 22 year old to change the fate of a franchise? If we are talking about Edwards, yes it is!

How good is Anthony Edwards? Is he the next big thing of the league? Let's find out!

Star from the start!

(Image source: New York Times)

Anthony Edwards was born on the 5th of August, 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia. Edwards was playing both basketball and football in high school but the orange ball was more fun for him. Edwards was a star from the start, being a four-star recruit he commited to the university of Georgia and the Georgia Bulldogs.

With averages of 19.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists, Edwards was the top scorer of the team while earning All-SEC second team and SEC freshman of the year awards.

Edwards was too good to stay another year in college. He declared for the 2020 NBA draft where he was drafted no1 overall by Minnesota Timberwolves.

Not your ordinary rookie

Edwards came hot in the NBA. He wasn't a shy player whose afraid to take his chances. He was a scoring machine averaging 19.3 points per game, the most by any rookie of his class.

Not only that but this guy seemed like he was destined to end careers. Just check his dunk highlights from his rookie year and you 'll understand.

Edwards came second to Lamelo Ball on winning rookie of the year and Timberwolves weren't able to advance to the playoffs for the 2020-2021 but it didn't matter. They finally made the right draft choice, their so wanted franchise corner stone in the face of Edwards.

Offensive Juggernaut

Edwards has been improving every year since he entered the NBA. It's not a coincedence that in 4 seasons since Edwards arrived, Timberwolves have missed the playofs only once in his rookie year!

Edwards greatest weapon is his offense. This guy has all the tools you need in a shooting guard. He is an all around scorer and he doesn't have a liability in his offensive game. 

He is a great slasher, fast with an amazing first step and an unstoppable force when he drives inside the basket. What if you give him the 3 point to avoid getting attacked into the basket? No, Edwards has developed a reliable 3 point shot. In fact he averages 36% from the 3PT line which is a very respectable number. You can't just leave him alone and excpect to win the game.

What about his dribbling skills and ball handling? Unmatched I would say. He is quick with the ball and his handles are great which makes it difficult for the defender to stay on him.

When it comes to athletism, Edwards is a freak of nature. With an impressive 41 vertical leap while standing at 6'4 feet, you'll be lucky if you do net get posterized!

What Anthony Edwards can improve in his game?

Timberwolves success weighs a lot on Edwards and the improvements he made in his game. There actually two factors that Edwards worked on and can be shown in the advanced stats. But still, he can become far more better that he is. Let's breaking it down real quick!

Passing

Edwards is a pure scorer and there's no doubt about that. When it comes to playmaking and passing he has room to improve. This season Edwards marked a career high 5.1 assists per game which is very respectable number for a scoring guard.

What Edwards needs to understand is that when he is facing an off night, he has to find a different way to impact the game. Playmaking and passing is one of them. To be fair, he is on the right track.

Defense

Edwards has improved a lot in this area since he entered the NBA. From a horrendous 116.1 defensive rating as a rookie to a 109.5 this season, Edwards has established himself as an above average defender in the league. 

The question is, can he improve his defensive game even more? Yes of course. He has all the physical tools to become a defensive juggeranaut for Timberwolves. Defense is more about mindset than skill if you play at this level.

Looking at Edwards, he is a type of player whose more capable to win a defensive player of the year award in a few years from now if he makes the right improvements!

The next MJ?

There are many people who compare Edwards to Michael Jordan. Even their faces match. Is Edwards the next MJ though? Well, I do not know about that. Comparing players from different eras never stands out to me since the game is quite different than it was 30 years ago.

Still, Edwards is only 22 years old! He is already a top 15 player in the league and has all the tools to succeed. In a league that has become soft by the years, Edwards stands out from his peers for his competitive spirit and his hunger to become the best. You can see it in his eyes that he wants it bad!

Anthony Edwards and Michael Jordan face similarities

Before I started writing this aritcle Timberwolves had just lost the first game of the WCF against the Dallas Mavericks. As of now the series is 3-0 against them. Edwards has struggled a lot in those games, both offensively and defensively.

But I will give the benefit of the doubt to a 22 year old at his first WCF appearence! Edwards is the future of this league, the player who will carry the torch after Lebron James and Kevin Durant retire. Just wait and see!

The Sports Bust - James Bartzis