Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards has received extremely high ratings from an anonymous NBA scout, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
“While talking to some scouts before last night’s game, one of the scouts said of Anthony Edwards ‘He’s the next Michael Jordan’… He’s going to be competing for Giannis’ spot as the best two-way superstar. Laurel,” McMahon said. basketball collective Podcast (19:08 mark).
McMahon noted that when he responded that the comparison was “a little exaggerated,” the scout said, “Yeah, but it’s not that far off.”
Edwards is off to a hot start in 2023, averaging 27.9 points in seven games.
He shot 51% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 82% from the free throw line. The Timberwolves have started the season with a 5-2 record, good enough for third place in the Western Conference heading into Friday’s game.
Edwards’ efficient scoring is excellent, but it’s his defensive energy that takes his overall game to new heights. He has the toughest perimeter duties every game, locking down opposing wings every night.
With Edwards making huge strides on the defensive end and Rudy Gobert patrolling the interior, the Timberwolves have a defensive rating of 100.4 this season. That was the best mark in the league, according to NBA.com.
The latest example of Edwards’ defensive improvement came in Minnesota’s recent 114-109 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics. The Celtics attacked him multiple times in overtime as the 22-year-old committed five fouls.
He held his own on the defensive end, stole the ball from Jayson Tatum, and then hit three consecutive baskets to end the game.
“In overtime, he was talking big on the jump ball,” Edwards said, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krausinski. “I told him, ‘(expletive), here I go again. ‘” Luckily, I was called for a one-on-one, and I was trying to get a one-on-one on me, and I said, ‘I’m on defense, I just committed five fouls. ‘”
While comparisons to Michael Jordan may be a stretch at this point in his career, there’s no denying that the former 2020 No. 1 overall pick has developed into one of the best two-way players in the NBA.