How good is Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards? D Wade special
By Bret Stuter
![Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8a9515de35b0e7037e15c1ce17d0998680dd763f0f5c7b3ffe56513e99006a98.jpg)
Whenever a young talent emerges into the NBA, there is an almost automatic urge to begin to compare him to past players. After all, the way we learn is through categorization. You cannot know how good a player is, in truth, until you can compare him to other players. When you have a solid comparison, then that rookie falls into that category.
It’s why we are compelled to name rookies who have yet to play a single game in the NBA as similar players to a LeBron James, a Karl Anthony Towns, or even a Ja Morant. We learn by association.
But who is the NBA equivalent to Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards? Well, let’s see just how good he is right now, shall we? And he will improve, as all young NBA players do. Right now, Anthony Edwards (a.k.a. Ant-Man) is already flirting with projections of NBA greatness. Just check out his second season scorecard:
Anthony Edwards flashed strong talent in his 2nd NBA season!
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) May 26, 2022
Offensive Talent Grades:
Perimeter Shooting: A+
Midrange Pull Up: C+
Floater: C+
Finishing: A+
Playmaking: A-
Offensive Rebounding: C
Screening: D+
Player Profiles:https://t.co/BTCuhtUgPw
His 3 Talent Badges: pic.twitter.com/Vb0gstUCnz
That’s quite a solid profile already. From that, we dare to suggest that he can get better? If so, then exactly who is the NBA equivalent? Well, would you believe Dwayne Wade? Not by me, but by NBA great Dwayne Wade himself.
"I definitely think he can be a better player than I was. He has all the tools."@DwyaneWade has high hopes for Anthony Edwards. pic.twitter.com/0CcSdPM3eK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2021
Is the comparison fair? Well, by citing the comparison, all of the player characteristics that Dwayne Wade was known for are conveyed to Ant-Man. But while those comparisons are tough to argue, there is the fact that Ant-Man loves the three-point shot, something that Dwayne Wade never really warmed up to.
Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards is an offensive outboard motor. He is on the court to put up points, and he loves his job. As an NBA rookie, he averaged 19.3 points per game. But by year two, that rose to 21.3 points per game. But when the going got tough in the NBA Playoffs, Anthony Edwards got going, bumping his offensive output up to 25.2 points per game. And his three-point shot seemed to fall through from anywhere, as he made 40.4 percent of his postseason treys.
But he has the time to develop into a huge force on defense as well. Even as he has improved offensively, he has improved defensively as well.
Is he the player the Minnesota Timberwolves should build around going forward? Or should they build around star center Karl-Anthony Towns?
Why not both? Ant-Man’s floor spacing and perimeter shooting are an ideal complement to KAT’s game. If the Timberwolves could pull off a solid facilitator and bolster their big man presence this off-season, the team could advance further in the NBA Playoffs. Ultimately, the Timberwolves will need to get past the Golden State Warriors. Ant-Man, whoever you compare him to, places the team one step closer to doing so.
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