Having short hair, a predatory eye for the hoop, and a craving for big moments, Anthony Edwards instantly hit the spotlight. Comparisons began and they started with His Airness. People started finding similarities between Ant and Michael Jordan. However, with him taking on the three-pointer heavily this season, some have criticized the Wolves keystone for not being as aggressive. Notably, Charles Barkley felt Edwards’ game was deflating due to him not using his atomic athleticism as frequently.

Usually, Edwards doesn’t listen. However, as he did for his Year Five documentary, he did agree with Barkley on a few things.

Two things resonated with Edwards. Barkley spoke about Edwards not being Michael Jordan. “I  f**k with the end part with the comparing me to MJ and all that like I don’t like that either,” said the 23-year-old. The other thing was the need to lead the Timberwolves better as they battle a season of inconsistency.

However, Anthony Edwards scoffed at Barkley’s remark over his shift to being the leading three-pointer shooter in the league. To clarify, Edwards still poses a danger to the rim, regularly attacking the basket. And just as the perception is, Edwards is colossal to any shot blocker in the league.

But his philosophy to take the three-pointers is two-fold. The defense is allowing it and he is making them. “I’m making these shots so like I don’t know how I regress if I’m making, I don’t get it. It’s not like I’m taking these shots and I’m missing them. Like oh now I can shoot that b***h so of course if it’s open I’m going to take it. Sometimes they be right bro like I said I with the end part but like sometimes I just be like bro what you talking about?” Edwards said in response to the Hall of Famer.

This year, Edwards is averaging a career-high in three-point makes and percentage. The notion though is the elusive guard isn’t charging the rim. His points in the paint are sitting at 7.9 per game. In the last two seasons, he was close to touching 11. However, he is still drawing 4 fouls per game, the second-best mark of his career.

Incorporating the three-point shot into his arsenal has led to him averaging a career-high 27.5 points per game. The problem has never been in his scoring choices. But Edwards does have some self-criticism.

Anthony Edwards wants the Wolves to activate defensively

Since Edwards made his debut for the Timberwolves, there has been a trend. Each year the team improved defensively. Ball hounds such as Jaden McDaniels and Alexander-Walker’s signings helped defense become the identity of the team. They peaked last season, ranking for the best defense and making it all the way to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2004.

However, this year is the first time that the Wolves are experiencing a defensive decline. They still allow the fourth least points in the league. Yet, their intensity has stooped, leading to some offensive struggles. But to Anthony Edwards, scoring was never how they won games. That’s the reason he calls the team “terrible”.

“I’m soft, we soft. We can’t say we competing and we don’t be physical every night cause that’s how we win games. The Minnesota Timberwolves win games with our defense. So we don’t bring it every night that’s why I said the season been terrible cause we not the team that every night we are going to try to live and die with our defense,” he said about the Timberwolves’ season.

Such lapses have led to a 31-25 record before the All-Star break. Last season the Wolves finished as the third seed, and the nucleus of their success was their ‘pitbullish’ defense. This year that hasn’t been the case. But with injuries to key players such as Randle and DiVincenzo, even strong defensive performances haven’t resulted in regular wins as they did last season.

As things are, the Wolves have the personnel to be a ravishing defensive side. They still are among the best. However, that hike has only come about recently. It’s now up to the Wolves to stick with their identity and build upon it after the All-Star break.