Anthony Edwards was three years old when his father gave him the nickname “Ant-Man.” He was dominant on the football field, where many thought his future was at the time. But little did they know the young athlete would become an NBA star and the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Edwards has famously said he could have been an NFL football player but chose basketball at age 10 because he thought it looked more fun. He said he instantly fell in love with the game, but imagine if Edwards stuck with football and never tried basketball… Luckily, Timberwolves fans don’t have to worry about that.
Why Anthony Edwards is Special
Anthony Edwards’ Rise
Edwards has gone through a lot in his young life. He lost his mother when he was 14 and his grandmother a year later. Then, his college career was interrupted by a pandemic. Yet every time you see the young man, he has a smile on his face and is lifting others up.
Coming out of college, scouts said Edwards “lacked passion” or “didn’t have that killer instinct.” The athleticism was clearly there, but could that translate into the NBA? The Timberwolves took a chance on the young kid and took him first overall in the 2020 NBA draft.
Why He Is Special
In his fourth season, Edwards has continued to improve each year. Here are his stats from each season:
- 2020-2021: 19.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.1 SPG
- 2021-2022: 21.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 1.5 SPG
- 2022-2023: 24.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.6 SPG
- 2023-2024: 25.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.4 SPG
The improvement has been steady each year, but the most important improvement has been on the defensive side of the ball. He still has room to grow, but compared to his rookie season, Edwards is significantly better.
Edwards is also hilarious. Of course, this has nothing to do with his on-court performance, but it is huge in his off-the-court image. Any time Edwards is interviewed or on camera, some iconic moment ensues. He recently gave his teammate Mike Conley the nickname ‘Bite-Bite.’ When asked why he picked that nickname, Edwards replied, “He just looks like he is going to always bite someone.”
Ultimately, the charisma is off the charts. Edwards is always supporting his teammates. If Karl-Anthony Towns hits a game-winner, Ant-Man is the first to congratulate him. If Rudy Gobert sends a shot into the stands, who is the first to hype him up? Edwards. Or if Conley (Bite-Bite) makes a spectacular pass, Edwards is usually the one finishing the assist.
The Last Word on Anthony Edwards
How many NBA players have all three qualities: insane athletic ability, great leader and teammate, and hilarious/entertaining simultaneously? The list is tiny, and that might be overestimating it. Regardless, Edwards is extraordinary because he has a unique ability to ball out on the court and entertain off. You might be thinking, well, why does that matter? It matters because you need all three characteristics to be the face of a franchise or even the NBA. The Timberwolves’ ceiling will go as high as Edwards decides. He will either bring them their first NBA title, or Minnesota will have another disappointing season; the ball lies in his court.
As of this article’s release, Edwards has led the Wolves to a 10-3 record and first place in the Western Conference.
