Anthony Edwards has constantly been compared to Michael Jordan. Frankly, I've never liked these comparisons -- Ant is his own person, and comparing him to the best player of all-time (in my book) is a high bar. Nevertheless, there are similarities between Ant and MJ, both in terms of playstyle and mindset.
Whenever the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Oklahoma City Thunder, we see these similarities. After beating the defending champs for the second time this year, Edwards noted that it's personal for him when the Timberwolves play OKC -- and watching it, you can see this.
Anthony Edwards after beating the Thunder:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 30, 2026
"It's super personal for me cuz they put us out last year and they got the reigning MVP" pic.twitter.com/shreUgeFNd
Of course, Jordan popularized "it became personal with me" during The Last Dance documentary, where everyone saw just how much of a psycho competitor MJ was. And while the interview question set Ant up for this awesome quote, it's clear that he plays with an extra edge against the Thunder.
Edwards reaches a different level against the Thunder
Edwards' season averages of 27.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists against the Thunder might not jump off the page. However, for my money, his best defensive games of the season have all come against OKC. He willed the Wolves to a win in clutch time in December. This time around, it was a team effort, but Edwards set the tone for the Wolves on both ends of the court. Ant's 26 points were a team high, and, perhaps, more importantly, he played lockdown defense.
Ant's defensive intensity against OKC, as this aspect of his game has waxed and waned throughout the year.
All the best players use their failures as motivation, and it's clear that's what Edwards (and frankly, the whole team) has done with last year's conference finals. Furthermore, Edwards has openly talked about wanting to surpass Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who, of course, won MVP last season.
While Edwards hasn't surpassed SGA yet (who seems destined to win his second MVP), he's moved closer this year. The 24-year-old is having a career year, averaging 29.3 points. He has grown immensely as a mid-range scorer while watching MJ film and talking to him this summer. Notably, Edwards is netting 43.8 percent of his mid-range shots, and his growth as a mid-range scorer has made him a more well-rounded scorer. Ant is also shooting a career-high 72.3 percent at the rim.
Ultimately, it's clear that Edwards has certain matchups circled on his calendar, and the Thunder are at the top of that list. Ant's ability to use his past experiences as motivation is a sign of greatness. So is how much he cares about chasing the league's best players.
When the playoffs roll around, Edwards will play every game with this extra edge (as he has in the past), and that's a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.