Anthony Edwards: The Unstoppable Force Shaking Up the NBA Playoff Landscape

Anthony Edwards, the 22-year-old rising star, has taken the NBA playoffs by storm, drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan with his gravity-defying dunks and uncanny swagger. However, Edwards rejects the comparisons and instead focuses on being the best version of himself, driven by a deep-seated competitiveness and an unconventional childhood.

Anthony Edwards has emerged as the breakout star of the NBA playoffs, captivating fans with his jaw-dropping athleticism and infectious energy. His electrifying dunks and effortless swagger have drawn inevitable comparisons to Michael Jordan, with side-by-side videos flooding the internet showcasing their mirror-image elevations and uncanny ability to make defenders look like helpless synchronized swimmers.

Despite the obvious similarities, Edwards has repeatedly expressed his desire for the comparisons to stop. "He's the greatest of all time. I can't be compared to him," he told FOX Sports. However, even Edwards himself cannot extinguish the firehose of admiration.

"He's like a young '84 Jordan," said Kevin Garnett. "I told him, 'Man, you've got a chance, brother, to be Michael Jordan," added Patrick Beverley. Kendrick Perkins chimed in on X: "We are watching the Future Face of the NBA." Draymond Green echoed the sentiment on his podcast: "I think Anthony Edwards is poised to be that next guy."

Edwards' playoff performance has only reinforced these claims. He averaged 31 points, including career-highs in field goal percentage (51.2%), rebounds (8), and assists (6.3) in the Timberwolves' first-round sweep over Kevin Durant's Phoenix Suns. It was the franchise's first series win in 20 years and its only perfect one in its 34-year history.

Since the start of the playoffs, Edwards has generated the second-most video views across NBA social and digital platforms (100 million), trailing only LeBron James. He has also gained the most Instagram followers of any player since the start of the postseason, skyrocketing from 2.1 million to 2.35 million.

Edwards' unique style of play, reminiscent of Jordan's, has drawn praise from his teammates. "Obviously, they have a lot of the same mannerisms," said Timberwolves guard Mike Conley. "The moves, the fadeaways, the athleticism, the poster dunks, the blocks, the defensive stuff that he does. But really, just his drive is kinda the main thing. That same kind of work ethic, that same kind of 'I don't sleep at all at night because I'm ready to play, I'm ready to hoop.'"

Intriguingly, Edwards' Jordan-esque traits seem to be natural rather than acquired. Unlike Kobe Bryant, who meticulously studied Jordan's moves and intensity, Edwards never made a conscious effort to emulate him. "He didn't watch Jordan play," said Justin Holland, who has trained Edwards since he was 14. "It's natural."

Those closest to Edwards say they recognized his resemblance to Jordan long before it became part of the national narrative. For them, it is his unyielding competitiveness that stands out above all else. Jordan's ruthlessness in any competition, from basketball to cards to golf, is echoed in Edwards' own demeanor.

His uncle, Chris Edwards, has learned never to challenge him to anything. His brothers witnessed him starting fights when he lost one-on-one competitions in their grandmother's backyard. After losing a ping-pong game, Edwards disappeared for a few days, practicing tirelessly and watching YouTube videos of professional ping-pong highlights. "In about two weeks," said Holland, "Nobody could beat him."

Despite the constant comparisons from basketball experts and his inner circle, Edwards' resistance to the Jordan label remains firm. Is the pressure too much? "No, no pressure," he told FOX Sports. "It's just not possible."

Edwards' need to prove his worth stems from an unexpected incident during a pre-draft workout in 2020. Overhearing a 6-year-old kindergartner doubting his abilities, Edwards took the challenge personally and unleashed a relentless performance of back-to-back-to-back scoring, silencing his young critic.

Edwards' fiery competitiveness stems from his upbringing. Growing up, he excelled in football, but his brother's influence drew him to basketball. When Anthony lost, he would lash out physically. Edwards realized that basketball offered an outlet for his competitive drive.

"I was like, forget football," he said. "I want to be like, Bub."

Edwards' brothers also fostered his trash-talking skills. "I would say growing up in the backyard, playing 21 with my brothers, I never could win," he said. "So I would try to talk them out of winning. I would find a way to cheat the game. 'Hey, let me get a free two-points right here.' But they would never do it. So I would try to trash-talk them out of the game."

Today, Edwards' verbal manipulation skills have become legendary. He recently starred as a trash-talking foil alongside Adam Sandler in the movie "Hustle." Interestingly, Edwards did not hesitate to get under Kevin Durant's skin during their playoff series, trash-talking him after several 3-pointers. Durant smiled and shook his head, likely recognizing a reflection of his own competitive nature.

Edwards' intensity mirrors Jordan's fiery spirit, but they also have significant differences. Edwards' family describes him as soft and sensitive. "He wears his heart on his sleeve," said Uncle Chris. "That's why he don't read [social media] comments a lot. People can be so hard on him. It gets to him more than it may show."

Edwards' vulnerabilities and quirks set him apart from the Jordan mold. He won his fifth-grade spelling bee, prefers to spend evenings playing video games and eating chicken fingers, and is well-known within the Timberwolves organization for his coachability and camaraderie.

Most poignantly, Edwards' basketball journey was shaped by grief. The loss of his mother and grandmother to cancer within eight months of each other when he was 14 led him to channel his emotions into the sport.

"It was coming together," his brother Bubba said. "Like, OK, he's going to be a problem."

Edwards does not seek guidance from Jordan, LeBron James, or any other established star. His inner circle remains his main source of support. "They keep me level-headed, man," he said. "They talk shit to me all the time, tell me stuff that I need to be doing that I'm not doing right."

As he prepares to face the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, Edwards' focus remains on winning with his teammates rather than chasing individual accolades. "A healthy Timberwolves team, I see us winning the championship this year," he said.

Ultimately, Edwards is determined to forge his own path, without being weighed down by Jordan's shadow or the pressure of becoming the next face of the league. His motivations lie elsewhere, in the memory of his lost loved ones.

"I feel like he's playing so hard because he knows he's got two of his queens watching him," Bubba said. "His every move, he's trying to impress them and keep them smiling and keep them proud."