His responses to questions in media appearances have become very popular since he boasted about his skill to excel in any activity during an interview with local sports broadcaster Marney Gellner for a “Wolves +” podcast.
His impressive moments are equally captivating, going back to his amazing dunk over then-Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe.
Since his first year playing professionally, everything Anthony Edwards has done has shown that he is a superstar. There were times when the Timberwolves guard would gain attention. But then his name would fade in the national basketball conversation compared to LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
His jersey sales have never been high on the NBA store’s best-selling lists. He’s never received a large number of all-star votes.
The question always remained: When would this young star, perfect for television, finally achieve long-lasting stardom?
The time has now officially arrived.
There was a week between the Timberwolves completing a four-game sweep of Phoenix in the first round of the NBA playoffs and the start of their Western Conference semifinal series on Saturday in Denver. The official NBA social media accounts still managed to fill the feeds with Anthony Edwards content throughout the week. Edwards’ top 10 dunks, top 10 blocks, and top 10 toughest shots of his career. Even his best “mic’d up moments” were included.
Anything with Anthony Edwards’ face on it was being posted on an NBA account. Because people can’t get enough of him.
The Wolves guard was the seventh most watched player on NBA social channels during the regular season, according to the League. Over the first week of the playoffs, he got 100 million video views across all NBA digital platforms, trailing only James.
A video of Edwards happily leaving Phoenix’s arena after Game 4 got 6.6 million views on Twitter.
His new Adidas signature shoe sells very quickly. He has been featured in recent commercials for Sprite and Bose.
“He’s the most important player in the league, I’ve been saying that,” Wolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He doesn’t like it when I say it, but it’s true.”
That title has long been held by James. James, Durant, and Curry have been the main stars around which the entire NBA revolved. But they are all now in the latter part of their 30s. Curry didn’t make the playoffs, and Durant and James were both eliminated in the first round.
There have been questions about which player basketball fans would support after those three retired. International players like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have become popular in recent years, but Edwards — whether he wants it or not — has joined the competition.
“He is the future of American basketball,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on NBA Today.
It’s partly due to his personality. Edwards has a captivating quality, which quickly attracted Timberwolves fans and teammates. He has a strong sense of humor and the charm to capture any audience. Even when he yells at teammates, they can’t help but smile.
Wolves assistant coach Micah Nori said that people were drawn to Anthony Edwards because he was a likable and genuine person. Edwards is comfortable being himself whether he's in front of the media, doing commercials, or playing a game, and that's why he handles it so well.
Since entering the NBA as the top pick in 2020, Edwards has always been in a situation where winning is the key difference.
It's easy to overlook a young star playing in Minnesota for a team struggling through the play-in games, only to be eliminated in the first round.
But it's impossible to ignore a young guard who confidently confronts Durant after making a shot over him, celebrates after a successful full-court assist resulting in a Rudy Gobert score, and scores 31 points in the second half of a game that eliminated Durant and Devin Booker.
These are the actions of a legendary player.
Wolves guard Mike Conley compared Edwards to a young Michael Jordan during a TNT pregame show, highlighting Edwards' unbelievable talent and strong belief in himself.
According to Conley, Edwards has an incredible mentality and believes he is the best player ever. He has a fierce determination.
NBA analyst and hall of famer Charles Barkley sees similarities between Edwards' aggressive approach and that of Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Barkley admires Edwards' aggressive attitude, contrasting it with the more friendly demeanor of many current players.
Stephen A. Smith of ESPN declared Edwards as a new superstar in the NBA, likening his arrival to that of MJ and Kobe.
Despite being a superstar, Edwards tends to avoid taking credit. He even declined to speak with local media in Minnesota and initially walked away from a national postgame interview after a victory, before returning to fulfill the obligation.
In any interview, Edwards focuses on praising those around him. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly stated that Edwards is primarily concerned about his teammates, family, friends, and competition, which gives the team confidence in his ability to handle his newfound fame.
Tim Connelly, Thunderwolves president of basketball operations, mentioned that some players focus more on their personal brand, but Edwards is more focused on the competition itself.
Nori mentioned that Edwards is very confident and aware of his skills.
Nori explained that Edwards doesn't distance himself from others despite his confidence, and he is dedicated and trusts his abilities, which Nori finds enjoyable.
This applies to teammates, coaches, and onlookers alike.
According to NBA analyst and former player J.J. Redick, Anthony Edwards is now a must-watch player when he plays for the T-Wolves.
Redick pointed out that the "face of the league" should be a high-level winner, and even though Edwards has only won one series, it has still put him in contention.
Redick expressed that Edwards is likely to be a significant player in the NBA for the next decade due to his entertaining style of play, similar to iconic players like Jordan, Kobe, AI, and Steph.
Edwards could soon become the player that sports fans immediately think of when they think about the NBA, especially with the support he receives on social media after every Timberwolves playoff win.
Nori believes that the young player, No. 5 in Minnesota, has the potential to contend for the face of the league and challenge for the MVP title currently held by Nikola Jokic.
On First Take, Smith mentioned that currently, Jokic is considered the face of the league, but if Edwards eliminates him from the playoffs, it could change.
