Anthony Edwards Should Forget Michael Jordan, Advises Shaquille O’Neal: “I Don’t Wanna Hear Their F**king Names”

Anthony Edwards has rapidly turned into one of the biggest young stars in the NBA. The 22-year-old guard has led the Minnesota Timberwolves to the top seed in the Western Conference this season with a 55-24 record. Ant-Man’s rise to superstardom has led many to believe that he might be the next face of the NBA. Some have even deemed him the next version of 6-time Champion Michael Jordan. Amid MJ comparisons, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal drew a clearer picture from his experience and advised Edwards to take a different route.

Shaq and Adam Lefkoe discussed the similarity between Anthony Edwards and Michael Jordan’s game during the latest episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq. While Shaq’s TNT co-host Candace Parker and many others see a glimpse of MJ in Edwards, the Big Diesel advised the Timberwolves star to forget about the comparisons, “Forget MJ, He need to be Ant Edwards.”

Shaq revealed when he came into the league in 1992, people told him he was not good enough. So, by the time the NBA World witnessed his talent and started comparing him to other legendary Centers, Shaq did not want any part of it. “F**k everybody. You gonna know my name”.

“No disrespect to Kareem, Bill, and Wilt, but I don’t wanna hear their f**king names.” Shaq advised Edwards to follow in his footsteps and build a unique identity. “Don’t focus on being the next Mike. Be who you are”, he added, while showing confidence in Ant-Man’s prowess.

Even Edwards has denied the MJ comparisons multiple times.

In a recent interview with Malika Andrews, Ant-Man said, “I don’t wanna be compared to somebody of such caliber. I haven’t done anything on his level yet. But I love it. They got faith in me for sure.”

Anthony Edwards’ playoff performance could escalate the MJ comparisons

Like it or not, Anthony Edwards will always draw comparisons with Michael Jordan because of their similar playing style. Edwards has the same tenacity and competitive mindset as His Airness, and his insane athleticism further solidifies the people’s claim. Edwards also has that aura about him that Jordan had during his prime. Last night, Ant took the NBA World by storm after scoring a career-high 51 points in a win against the Washington Wizards. He did it in front of world-renowned rapper 50 Cent. It looks like Edwards has a knack for showing up in the biggest moments, just like Jordan.

The comparisons will only escalate if Edwards continues his dominant form in this year’s playoffs. With 3 games remaining in the regular season, the Timberwolves have a chance to finish as the top seed. That will be the perfect opportunity for Edwards to showcase his talent and elevate his stardom to the next level. Edwards has shown glimpses of his greatness in the playoffs in the past, averaging 28.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 assists. But he has never led the Timberwolves past the first round!

He could change that this season. Minnesota has a star-studded team with multiple All-Stars, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and Karl-Anthony Towns. They also have a deep bench that can be crucial for a deep postseason run. Edwards could further fuel the MJ comparisons by dominating when it matters the most.

Read More: Unlike Caitlin Clark, Attention Makes Anthony Edwards’ Life Difficult With Timberwolves; Popular Podcast Discusses