Anthony Edwards just produced another 40+ point game this Sunday in the Western Conference semifinals against the reigning champions, and continues to earn comparisons to Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest NBA player of all time. However, many experts encourage this comparison to stop, because it is not really healthy.
Yes, there is no doubt that the Minnesota forward has raised his level in these NBA playoffs and is catching everyone's attention, even Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzweski, aka Coach K.
The legendary strategist, who made a name for himself working with many basketball stars at Duke University and Team USA, knows what a young athlete needs to become a champion.
“Anthony Edwards coming up, everybody knew he was really good, but the playoffs give players a chance to get to the next level, if they can get to the next level,” he said of the former Georgia Bulldog. “That's what happened with Edwards. He beamed. Not only was she brilliant, but she was amazing.”
However, Krzyzweski is convinced that it is too soon to compare the number 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft with the six-year NBA champion. “People should slow down the comparisons,” he said. “Jordan is as good as anyone who has ever played, Anthony Edwards is 23 years old. Michael Jordan has done his whole career. “
“Jordan is big and a little tall. But at this time, Edward still has a chance to be that star,” emphasized the coach. “We are in a situation where people want to give lists and comparisons. The longer you do it, the more you show how good a player you are. I think Anthony Edwards will do that, but let's give him time to do it.”
The Hall of Famer also praised Wolves president Tim Connelly for the team he built around Edwards. “He put this team together where there are two great guys, (Karl-Anthony) Towns and (Rudy) Gobert. That's unusual in a league that ended up with no facilities,” said Krzyzewski. “They should be considered favorites there.”
Edwards recently said that he wishes for the comparison to end so that he can create his own “style” going forward
Although he admitted that he feels relatively grateful, the Minnesota star also wishes they would stop. “I want people to be like, 'This Anthony Edwards kid, he's got his own style. Maybe he's got a little bit of Michael Jordan in him,'” Edwards said.
“But I have the trey ball, I can shoot the three. So, I think that makes me a little different than Michael Jordan,” he confirmed, as he is sure that he also played a role as a three-point shooter, while Jordan is known more for being a mid-range shooter.
The ant said he wanted the comparison of Michael Jordan to stop, then he went straight to where he applauded MJ 😂 pic.twitter.com/dSMGPtxbjC
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) May 7, 2024
Charles Barkley also asked NBA fans to put it down by comparison. “Please, America, please stop the Michael Jordan stuff,” he said on air last week. “This guy had one good playoff game. I think he's going to be a great player, he's a good kid, we support him, we want him to be…”
His manager Shaquille O'Neal cut him off to ask Chuck if he really thought Ant shouldn't be close to MJ, to which he replied “no. The Lakers icon then went on to say that the two players aren't too far apart when you look at Jordan's 23-year-old career. “I love Anthony Edwards,” Barkley insisted. “Don't do that.”
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