Anthony Edwards, also known as Ant or Ant-Man, is an NBA player with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The shooting guard joined the Timberwolves as the first overall pick in 2020 after becoming a consensus five-star recruit, one of the best players in 2019, and a McDonald’s All-American winner. Ant-Man also received the USA Today All-USA first-team honors and has had an impressive start to his NBA career. The Atlanta-born player believes he is the best, and even the legendary Michael Jordan privately admitted he sees some similarities between his early career days and the young lad. Here’s an overview of Anthony Edwards bio, basketball career, and recent comparison with Jordan:
Anthony Edwards Bio and Early Life
Anthony Edwards was born August 5, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, and received his nickname ‘Ant’ when he was only three years old. He was raised by his mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley. Unfortunately, both died in 2015 from cancer when he was in eighth grade. He would later receive the number 5 jersey to honor them, given they both died on the fifth day of the month. Edwards’ sister, Antoinette, and brother, Antoine, would then share legal custody over him during his high school years.
His journey in sports started as a running back, quarterback, and cornerback in football, and he even played youth football for the Atlanta Vikings. During his football spell, Ant became one of the best Pop Warner running backs by age 10. However, he was swayed into basketball after seeing his brothers play the sport. He would play against his brothers at their grandmother’s house and later began training under the guidance of former college basketball player for Liberty, Justin Holland. Edwards also had fun playing baseball as the team’s fourth or fifth hitter and often jokingly expressed how skilled he was at various sports.
Anthony Edwards NBA Career
Since joining the NBA in 2020, Edwards has become a fan favorite in Minnesota. Fans of NBA betting also love him as a key prop bet prospect, with his stats improving yearly. You can bet on the Timberwolves to win the match when Edwards is playing and back him to bag at least 20 points per game. You can also back Edwards to help his team into the playoffs and go the distance. Besides his debut season, the SG has averaged more than 20 points per game, and his stats have only gone one way (up) over the four seasons. He averaged 19.3 points in 2021, 21.3 points in 2022, 24.6 points in 2023, and 26.7 points in the current season.
Edwards has a career-high of 49 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. Since joining the Timberwolves in 2020, Edwards has received many honors. He was the number 1 overall pick on draft night and would go on to become the third youngest player to score 40+ points in the NBA. When the season ended, he finished second in Rookie of the Year and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Edwards made his first playoff appearance in the 2021/2022 season and received his first all-star appearance in 2022/2023. He was also part of the US National team that competed in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Anthony Edwards Michael Jordan Comparison
Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards has only been in the NBA for a few years. However, he sees himself as a great basketball player, and others are starting to notice it. In recent circulating news, the great Michael Jordan has privately confirmed he sees some similarities between him and Anthony Edwards. According to the news, legendary Jordan said Edwards reminds him of his initial years in the NBA. Over the years, every NBA Draft unveils a player whom most people compare to Michael Jordan, the golden standard of the most well-rounded player. Jordan has only acknowledged Kobe Bryant, who went on to become one of the greatest NBA players.
However, a new revelation has changed the stats after Jordan admitted Edwards, a young new talent, bears some similarities with his formative NBA years. This came as no surprise after Celtics legend Kevin Garnet compared Ant-Man with 1984 Jordan. Apparently, Edwards has shown some dunking styles that resemble Jordan’s style. Edwards is better at jumping but needs to refine his moves to replicate what Jordan did as a mid-range servant. In recent times, Edwards has embraced the new comparison with Jordan, with talks about him becoming the face of the NBA intensifying. The Timberwolves also seem to be following his confidence.
What the Future Holds for Edwards
Anthony Edwards has only been in the NBA since 2020, but his numbers keep getting better. It’s only a matter of time and a few championships with the Timberwolves. Since his college years, the shooting guard has shown impressive skills and adapted well to the NBA environment. Although number-one draft picks are usually expected to perform well, not all do, and Edwards is well-poised to become a true NBA legend. Minnesota Timberwolves is currently third in the Western Conference and is one of the teams expected to move further into the playoffs when the regular season ends.