Between 2004 and 2016, the Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t make the playoffs even once. Since 2017, they’ve reached the postseason 4 times, and Anthony Edwards has been part of 3 of those teams. And for the first time in 2 decades, the Wolves were in the Western Conference Finals, led by the 22-year-old. So, it made sense when he said, “I’m still the No. 1 option [for Team USA at the Olympics],” considering he’s been crucial in transforming the franchise into contenders. But Steve Kerr doesn’t seem to have the same opinion.

Yes, the Warriors and Team USA head coach loves Edwards’ mindset – “I love that Anthony Edwards said he’s the No. 1 option… I want him to think that way.” However, in the build-up to the Olympics, Kerr didn’t start the 22-year-old against Serbia. That, coupled with a few other factors, has raised questions about Kerr’s possible “agenda” against the Timberwolves star. Amid all this, the franchise’s greatest player, Kevin Garnett, shared his thoughts on Edwards’ rise.

In an appearance on the July 18 episode of the Club 520 podcast, the hosts and Garnett discussed their favorite guards in the NBA. And considering his previous comments and praise for Anthony Edwards, the 22-year-old’s name was bound to come up. “I love Ant’s go man. I like his yesteryear demeanor, man,” said KG. There’s something about Edwards that is unlike most other players of his generation, an old-school style of play that many veterans (and fans) are drawn to. And Garnett is one of them.

After all, outclassing players with more experience is what Ant-Man has repeatedly done since 2020, with a style of play that many have called Jordan-esque. For Kevin Garnett, no current player inspires more comparisons with Michael Jordan than the Wolves shooting guard – their aerial abilities and midrange game, in particular. “He’s like a young ’84 Jordan,” declared KG earlier this year. “If [Karl-Anthony Towns] weren’t on his team, he’d be averaging 30-something points per game.” Even with Towns, he averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 79 games last season.

With his versatile game, Edwards also brings the energy on the floor. His confidence is truly inspiring for the younger generation and sets the tone for his future endeavors. Maybe all this is why a veteran like Kevin Durant enjoys watching Anthony Edwards play, so much so that the youngster is his “favorite player to watch.” After the Suns’ Round 1 loss to the Wolves in the playoffs this year, KD said, “So impressed with Ant. My favorite player to watch. Just grown so much since he came into the league. At 22, just his love for the game shines bright.”

“That’s one of the reasons I like him the most because he just loves basketball. He’s grateful to be in this position. Love everything about Ant. Everything… he’s going to be somebody I’m following the rest of his career.” And the feeling’s mutual. In a recent promotional video for Team USA, the players were asked who they were most excited to play with. You best believe Anthony Edwards said, Kevin Durant. As Ant-Man prepares for the Olympics, he is one of the most anticipated players to step foot on the hardwood alongside Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

However, as great a player as he is, Edwards wasn’t a starter against Serbia. Now, Embiid has been struggling in the paint after relying on foul calls. The best replacement at this point would be Ant. But then again, there seems to be some problem within the squad, as all fingers are pointed at Steve Kerr. According to the nine-time champion, LeBron, Steph, and Joel Embiid are the Big 3 of this year’s national team. While many would put AD over Embiid or even Edwards in the top three, Kerr has some of his plays drawn beforehand.

But why is he hesitating to start Ant-Man? For the most part, there is no clear conclusion. However, it may have to do with their history. And no, this does not refer to when Kerr was harsh on Edwards during the pre-draft workout, saying that he believed the youngster “wasn’t working hard enough.” It has more to do with the Timberwolves’ stance in the West, per Gilbert Arenas. Regular season grudges may be the likely reason for this unspoken controversy.

The Timberwolves emerged as one of the fiercest rivals for the Warriors. And considering Anthony Edwards was their best player and put up quite a strong front against Kerr & Co. throughout the season, Arenas said, “He’s a head coach of an NBA team. He has his own agenda. That right there, that’s bad.” Explaining Kerr’s possible thinking, Arenas added, “If you’re a free agent and I’m looking to sign you, obviously, I’m going to play you a little bit more. If you’ve been killing my team all season, I don’t f**k with you. I’m not going to f**k with you in the USA team.”

But then again, the squad already has players who can fill the heavy scoring void.

Anthony Edwards is still young

Yes, Ant has shown how lethal he can be and how impactful his leadership is. However, he is now playing alongside or rather under one of the greatest players to have played the game, LeBron James, for the meantime. Alongside him, you have Steph and Ant’s favorite player, KD. The squad already has a bunch of leaders besides Edwards. Not to mention Devin Booker and Anthony Davis. It would be tough for Edwards to command this team unless he had guys like Bam, Haliburton, White, and Embiid on the floor.

You can’t deny it; he’s still a young player! And if it weren’t for Kerr’s alleged tactics, Edwards would still have been secondary to Steph. At the end of the day, Anthony Edwards is a respectable player. What he’s done for his franchise at such an early age is immaculate. We’ve seen Luka Doncic lead the same way, but at 22, he only dreamed of getting past the first round. It will be interesting to see Edwards gel with Curry and KD, as he is looking to make a statement at the Olympics.