Since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2020, Anthony Edwards has proven to be a superstar in the making. However, one former champion mentioned a key area for his future development.
Speaking of the top young stars in the league currently, Anthony Edwards is worth mentioning. He has been selected to the All-Star team and continues to improve every season. Last year, Edwards played in 79 games, averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
During a recent episode of the “Road Trippin'” podcast, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye expressed their thoughts on the Minnesota Timberwolves star. Jefferson liked what he saw from Edwards but wanted to see him grow mentally. He wishes he had the best desire to be like Steph Curry and LeBron James.
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“It also takes a higher level of mental intensity to be the best player you can be,” Jefferson said. “Let’s look at the mental state of the best players. Like LeBron, he’s crazy. Giannis is fucking crazy, Steph is fucking crazy.”
For context, the conversation broke out because both players were asked if they thought Edwards would be a top player in the NBA in five years.
Anthony Edwards shows strong desire to be the best
Richard Jefferson might have wanted to see more, but Anthony Edwards had already shown great mental fortitude. That was on full display this summer when he represented Team USA at the FIBA World Cup.
Although they didn’t win a medal, it wasn’t because of Edwards. On a team filled with NBA star players, he proved to be the best among them. Edwards is the team’s leading scorer with 18.9 points. His greatest game was against Lithuania when he exploded for 35 points.
Part of what makes Edwards stand on his own is his mental intensity. From the moment he joined the team, he was determined to solidify his status as “that guy.” It didn’t take long for players and coaches to recognize him as Team USA’s top player.
Following an impressive performance at the World Cup, Jefferson may see what he expects from Edwards this season. Since he played competitively in the offseason, he will be ready when training camp begins.
Anthony Edwards stands 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds and has the physical gifts to be a top player in the NBA. If he develops his mental game to the level of LeBron James or Stephen Curry, there is no doubt that he will become a superstar in the league in the next few years.