Speaking of Anthony Edwards, Stephen A. Smith, a renowned sports analyst, famously compared Edwards’ game to that of legendary player Kobe Bryant’s.
With the Timberwolves soaring high, powered by Edwards’ masterclass performances, the comparison is only natural.
Stephen A. Smith compares Anthony Edwards to Kobe Bryant: https://t.co/3feAvP39Ca
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 21, 2024
Although initially surprising, the early-season success of the Minnesota Timberwolves can primarily be attributed to star guard Anthony Edwards.
He has been phenomenal, lighting up the court with breathtaking plays, such as the memorable highlight from the Grizzlies game where he acrobatically dunked after bouncing the ball off the backboard himself.
This remarkable play prompted ESPN’s commentator, Stephen A. Smith, to compare Edwards to three legendary guards.
One of these comparisons was with the late basketball genius, and Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant.
Stephen A Smith compares Anthony Edwards to Vince Carter Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan on First Take pic.twitter.com/t1IX5OpTa3
— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) January 19, 2024
“Right now, when I see Anthony Edwards, I see in the making, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, M.J.,” said Smith. “… Anthony Edwards, you hear what I’m sayin’ to ya’ll. He is special. He ain’t there yet in terms of the names I mentioned, but he is coming.
Coming into the Oklahoma City Thunder game, Edwards had been clocking statistics reminiscent of a superstar:
averaging 26.1 points, 5. assists per game, with a 46.5% shooting average from the field, and a 38.% three-point shooting average.
Edwards’ ascent to NBA stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. As the former No. 1 overall draft pick, Edwards has continually improved with each season, marking his territory in the league’s superstar fraternity.
Much like Bryant, Edwards is known for his show-stopping slicing moves, dunks, and impressive shots from the perimeter.
Not only does Edwards share Bryant’s offensive skills, but he also mirrors Bryant’s confidence.
“I just want to be the best player to ever play basketball.”
"I just want to be the best player to ever play basketball."
No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards (@theantman05) joined @KrystenPeek to chat about his future with the Timberwolves and his goals in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/7tZ26lxHPu
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) November 19, 2020
Shortly after entering the league, Edwards made a grand proclamation about his ultimate goal as a basketball player, that truly resonated with Bryant’s own ambitious visions.
What sets Edwards apart, even more, is his exceptional defensive skill. Being 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he challenges numerous opponents, making their job on the court difficult.
The story of the Minnesota Timberwolves has not always been so promising. The previous season saw the team win a meager 42 games, losing in the playoffs’ first round to the eventual NBA champions, Denver Nuggets.
Their decision to trade for center Rudy Gobert received stark criticism, given his perceived misfit with the team’s then star player, Karl-Anthony Towns.
However, things have drastically improved this season. The pairing of Gobert and Towns seems to be working out, contributing significantly to the team’s top defensive rating in the league.
Bryant spent all his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, guided them to five world titles, won two NBA Finals MVP titles, and secured two scoring titles throughout his legendary career.
His exceptional skills, unparalleled work ethic, dedication, and drive to win have inspired countless players, including Edwards.
