Ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets Game 4 series at the Target Center, Charles Barkley spoke on TNT about Anthony Edwards and Michael Jordan’s comparison.
The Timberwolves guard, Edwards, is showcasing noteworthy performance in this year’s playoffs, and his playing style and some moves are compared to NBA legend Jordan.
Charles Barkley on Anthony Edwards: “Please America, please stop the Michael Jordan stuff. This guy has had one good playoff run. I think he’s going to be a great player…”
Shaq: “Is he close?”
Barkley: “Hellll naw… close to who? They both black.”
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) May 12, 2024
Barkley, putting an end to the comparisons, said on a recent episode of TNT,
“Please, America, please stop the Michael Jordan stuff. This guy’s had one good playoff run. I think he’s gonna be a great player, he’s a really nice kid, we root for him, we want him to be.”
Shaquille O’Neal, then interrupted the set asking if Edward was at least close to MJ at 23 years old, but Barkley wasn’t sold. He responded saying,
“Hell no. I love Anthony Edwards, do not do that.”
Kenny Smith joined in the conversation by comparing Edwards to Dwyane Wade, he said.
“His body type, and the way he plays, to me, reminds me more of D-Wade, young D-Wade, when he was carrying that team when he had Lamar Odom, and he was going through the playoffs for the first time.”
In the Game 3 loss to the Nuggets, Edwards took full responsibility for the Timberwolves blowout, saying, “take the blame for this loss.” Edwards said.
“It’s on me. I’ll take the blame for this loss. I came out with no energy at all. Likewise, I can’t afford to do that for my team. I let my team down, the fans down.”
Game 4 is a chance to seal the series and move to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2004.
