Anthony Edwards keeps getting compared to Michael Jordan, but he doesn't like it
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Bryan Kalbrosky.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is the breakout star of the NBA postseason and he is receiving tremendous praise in the process.
Edwards, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has dominated in the playoffs thus far. He is living up to the lofty expectations set for him with that selection, playing extraordinarily well on both sides of the court for the Timberwolves.
Minnesota swept the Phoenix Suns to advance to the second round of the playoffs in the Western Conference and are now favored to beat the Nuggets as well.
Considering the way that he plays, Edwards is also receiving more and more comparisons to Michael Jordan. Even though that is increasingly fair, it also is an entirely fruitless pursuit for all involved.
Edwards, however, reveled that he is not exactly a fan of the comparison:
“I want it to stop,” the 22-year-old Edwards told FOX Sports. “He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.”
Edwards said that it’s not the pressure of the comparison that bothers him. Instead, he said, it’s just simply not possible.
In fact, according to FOX Sports, the former No. 1 pick didn’t even watch Jordan play when he was growing up. The similarities just happened very naturally.
While they’re both extremely competitive wings with delightful athleticism and remarkable scoring ability, perhaps it is best we just let a good thing be a good thing in the NBA.
Not everything needs to come back to Jordan. Let’s just let Edwards develop on his own trajectory and appreciate him for the phenomenal player that he is now and grow into as well.
It’s the end of the Warriors as we know it (maybe)
The Golden State Warriors did not advance in the NBA’s play-in tournament and now face a potentially tumultuous offseason.
At the center of the conversation is Klay Thompson, who played an integral role in helping the franchise win four championships during his tenure. But after an especially brutal showing in an elimination game, the reality that it may have been Thompson’s last time playing for Golden State became more likely.
Even though Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has indicated that the franchise needs Thompson back, he is in the final year of his contract and could test out the waters as a free agent.
Here is more on where Thompson could consider signing for next season if he leaves Golden State.
Shootaround
— Nikola Jokic’s dry joke about the Timberwolves’ big men sets the stage for the Nuggets’ toughest test yet
— Pat Riley had a fiery response to Jimmy Butler trolling the Celtics while injured
— The latest NBA mock draft from CBS has Alex Sarr going No. 1 overall to the Pistons
— This Caitlin Clark photo of her dropping Jacy Sheldon is just perfect
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Anthony Edwards keeps getting compared to Michael Jordan, but he doesn’t like it