NBA veteran makes staggering comparison to Wolves' star

In only his fourth year in the league, Anthony Edwards has ascended to superstardom. This season, the 22-year-old guard is averaging 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 38.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Edwards has the Minnesota Timberwolves contending after numerous suffering seasons. Along with Edwards' ascension, the Wolves have also ascended to the top of the standings. After finishing 42-40 a year ago, Minnesota has already recorded 40 wins in just 57 games.

The league has taken notice of the Wolves and especially Edwards. He made his second straight All-Star appearance, competed in the Skills Challenge, and has received praise across the board from current teammates, ex-teammates, and NBA greats.

Another former player had recently shed light on Edwards' greatness, but it's not what one would expect. NBA veteran and current G-Leaguer, Lance Stephenson, listed Edwards as his favorite player to watch in an interview with HoopsHype.

He then went on to say that the Wolves' All-Star reminds him of himself. Stephenson said, "he reminds me of me with the super green light." The former Indiana Pacer explained that Edwards "plays really hard" and "talks junk," similar to how Stephenson played early in his career.

The comparison is sure to ruffle some feathers. For his career, Stephenson holds averages of 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He's never made an All-Star game nor averaged more than 15 points per game.

However, as far as competitiveness goes, Stephenson has a point. Playing for the Pacers in the early 2010s alongside Los Angeles Clippers' star Paul George, Stephenson took on the role of the antagonizer.

His battle against LeBron James in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals will surely go down in history. Stephenson's infamous "blowing in the ear" gesture set the internet ablaze. He also performed quite well in that series averaging 14.0 points, 5.8 boards, and 5.0 assists while spending much of his energy defending James.

Now at 33 years old, Stephenson is playing for the Timberwolves' G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. In 18 appearances, he's averaged 15.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. The veteran guard has certainly impressed. He recorded a triple-double in January and almost repeated the feat just a week prior.

Despite not playing a minute in the NBA since 2022, Stephenson still offers leadership, defense, and playmaking to contending squads. In the interview, the former Pacers guard stated his goal is "to get back up there with NBA teams."

As the season marches on, it's likely several teams will theorize signing Stephenson to their active roster. It's even possible the Timberwolves poach the veteran guard from their G-League correspondent. If such comes to fruition, it'd be fun to see Stephenson compete alongside his favorite player in Edwards.