Former NBA player Rashad McCants has drawn a notable comparison between Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards, emphasizing their differing approaches when facing off nights on the court.
In a recent discussion, McCants praised Edwards for his ability to impact the game through defense even when his scoring falters, contrasting this with Doncic"s tendency to disengage during poor shooting performances.
“So how was Ant able to impact winning despite his poor shooting night?" McCants asked, referencing Edwards" performance.
“I saw some people drawing comparisons to Kobe"s Game 7 versus the Celtics when he was six for 24 but came through with 23 points and 15 rebounds. It"s about getting the rest of the team involved and trusting those guys in the biggest game of the season. It"s just the will. You gotta be able to do other things outside of scoring when it"s not happening."
McCants elaborated on Edwards" ability to showcase his versatility,
“It shows that I"m more than just a scorer and I can find other ways to help my team win. That"s the difference between him and Luka. When Luka has an off game, he just packs it in. Ant, on the other hand, understands he needs to play defense if he"s not scoring."
McCants noted that many star players struggle to adapt when their shots aren"t falling, often failing to contribute in other areas. He cited Kobe Bryant"s ability to rebound and play defense during off nights as a key example of a player covering all bases.
“Kobe, in that series, knew he had to do other things—rebounding, playing defense. He would say, ‘My shot"s not falling tonight, but I"m not going to let that affect my defense.'"
“Ant showed it, man," McCants continued.
“He showed that he can"t just turn it off because his shot is off. Jamal Murray, for instance, when he"s missing shots, he tends to turn it off and doesn"t pick it up elsewhere. That’s the difference maker."
Through McCants" analysis, it"s clear that Anthony Edwards" dedication to contributing defensively, even when his offense isn"t clicking, sets him apart as a more well-rounded and resilient player in the eyes of many analysts and fans.
