The former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the world of basketball.
His achievements and accolades, which included winning six NBA Championships, stretched across a 19-year career where he performed at the highest level.
The five-time NBA MVP also has shoes named after him in Air Jordans and is well known for the Netflix series ‘The Last Dance’.
Anybody attempting to follow in the footsteps of arguably the greatest player to ever grace a basketball court is going to find it tough.
Many have been compared with MJ in the past and the latest name to face the pressure is Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.
His side have had a mixed season with the strong-minded 23-year-old speaking out on issues in the locker room.
It’s safe to say that the two players cannot be compared on achievements in the game so far. One has six NBA Championships to his name while the other has one Western Conference finals appearance.
The comparisons come when you look at how the two players compete on and off the court.
The relentless mindset and determination to win at all costs is one of the biggest driving factors behind the comparisons.
Edwards is a confident player who backs his ability and is always looking to bounce back from any setbacks he might have. One of the clearest examples of that came in the Timberwolves turnaround of the play-off series with the Denver Nuggets last season.
It’s not just his mental game that sees him so closely linked to MJ though, it’s also his ability on the court. His dunks have often drawn comparisons to the globally recognised Air Jordan logo whilst his shooting style compared to MJ is uncanny.
Whilst Edwards is putting up solid numbers, which are increasing year-on-year, he still has some way to go to match that of Jordan. Edwards has played just 22 playoff games with an average 28.5 points whilst Jordan, in his first 22, had an average of 35.4 points.
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Players and fans alike have been comparing Edwards to MJ for a while now with social media being flooded with side-by-side videos of the Timberwolves’ wonder kid and a young MJ.
Kevin Garnett, who was with the Timberwolves between 2015-16, said on Netflix’s ‘Starting 5‘: “I saw that same fire, that same delivery.”
Stephen A. Smith also said: “When I see Anthony Edwards I see MJ. Michael Jordan.”
Kendrick Perkins posted on X to say: “We are watching the Future Face of the NBA.”
Whilst it must be complimentary to receive these comparisons it will also put a lot of pressure on. Edwards spoke recently to Malika Andrews on Good Morning America to try to distance these comparisons.
Edwards was asked if he wanted the comparisons to Jordan to stop and he was not shy in giving his answer.
He said: “Yeah, for sure. He’s one of one man, the greatest of all time for sure, so I want them to stop.”
He went on to state how he wanted to be talked about as the ‘first Anthony Edwards’ not the next Michael Jordan.
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