Is Ant-Man the Next Big Thing After Jumpman? A Look at Anthony Edwards’ Adidas AE1 and Its Potential

In just three seasons with the NBA, Anthony Edwards has seen a rapid rise to fame. The 22-year-old is already an integral part of the Minnesota Timberwolves roster. And he is only set to grow more as we progress into the season. With all his popularity, it was only a matter of time before he released his own sneaker line. This move usually happens well into a player’s career, but in Edwards’ case, it was all expected. 

The forward will be releasing his sneakers, AE1 in collaboration with Adidas. The collection is all set to be released in December 2023. Anthony rocked his new kicks during a media day, and it got fans talking about its style and color. Now, people are talking about it again after a recent development. 

People are eagerly waiting for the Anthony show 

Adidas recently posted a promotional video for the launch of the shoes. In it, Anthony can be seen saying, “… we on my time now. AKA I don’t believe in anything but myself, and you should, too”. He wrapped it all up with, “Best in the world”.  And everyone is here for it! 

Hypebae detailed more into the making of the shoe. They shared, “The thoughtfully constructed shoe features a flexible knit upper for increased breathability and ventilation. Heringbone blades provide a better court grip, while a TPU overlay allows for movement in all directions, aiding in agility and speed. The sneaker’s inner lining comes a part of the shoe, resulting in a fitted, sock-like ankle. An innovative split tongue sets the design apart”. The launch of the shoes is just a start for the young star. Having been previously compared to His Airness himself, there is more to be expected from Anthony.

The Anthony Edwards-Michael Jordan comparison

Anthony has been compared to the GOAT for a long time because of his impressive athleticism, scoring ability, and defense tactics. But it also goes beyond that as they share an uncanny resemblance, as posted by a fan.

In March 2022, his former teammate, Patrick Beverly also used this comparison while talking on J.J. Redick‘s “The Old Man and the Three” podcast. He said, “If I say this, I know you guys are going to look at me like I’m crazy and I’m going to put all that pressure on that kid.But, I told him, ‘Man, you got a chance, man. You got a chance, brother, to be Michael Jordan. You really do.”

And a year later, the comparison rose again. This time it was ESPN’s Tim McMahon who shared that a scout told him that Edwards is similar to Jordan. It could all be attributed to his performances with Minnesota in the previous season and with Team USA during the FIBA World Cup. Even LeBron James commented on it, saying, ” Man cooking!!”

With so many people commenting on him, one does wonder: What do the stats say?

A look at the numbers

Anthony shared the same athleticism, shooting ability, and defense tactics with Michael. When we compare the first three seasons of the two players, Edwards has played more games, 223 to be precise against Jordan’s 182. While the former had scored 4871 points, the Jumpman is a little ahead with 5,762 points. The categories where the 22-year-old is ahead is with his rebounds(1137-1028) and his three-pointers (599-24). This is not to say that the gap is huge in other areas. In fact, he lags behind by relatively smaller numbers in assists, steals and blocks. 

Read More : Steve Kerr Gives Anthony Edwards and Co Due Flowers For Playing “Better Than Anyone” After Timberwolves Complete 3rd Upset

If we are to go by his current performances with his team, it is easy to say that Anthony will continue to draw these comparisons, moving forward. He averages 28.4 points with 6.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field. While he still has a lot more to learn and grow, the path he is on right now will definitely lead to more success. Maybe one day, he will surpass all these…

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What are your thoughts on this comparison? Let us know in the comments.