Anthony Edwards’ season ended in the Western Conference Finals, but by all accounts, he had a breakout year. And how! Comparisons to Michael Jordan started following him everywhere. It’s not about his stunning vertical, scary offensive maneuvers, or even trash talk. Charismatic confidence and the talent to back it up are very subtle Jordan-esque traits he displays. He’s played it humble on the MJ topic so far, but you can see him riding on it. Or at least social media can’t look past it. His Kobe Bryant-inspired Adidas campaign gave Jordan vibes to most, but is it taking away from Ant’s identity? Vishal Kolar asked Leonard Armato, the brand-builder to the pros like Shaq, just that on his second sit-down with EssentiallySports.

It’s easy to throw out MJ comparisons but Kolar asked if this is damaging to Antman’s brand and his dreams to be the future face of the league. As per Armato, it’s a fine line.

Armato: “I don’t think he has to take the bait on it. If people want to compare him to Michael Jordan, let ’em. All he has to do is say, ‘Jordan is one of a kind and I have ultimate respect for him.’ I think Anthony Edwards is sort of a different kind of guy, fun, young, certainly youthful in so many different aspects of his personality, explosive and incredibly fun to watch.”

Edwards has the desire to be the face of the league. In all aspects, he’s getting there but it won’t be immediately. Jordan was a star before the championships but it was only when he led the Chicago Bulls to the Finals for the first time that national networks took the NBA as a prime-time commodity, expanded sponsorships, and even influenced fashion when it could be said that His Airness was the true face of the league. Before Edwards can get there, he has to be consistent and healthy.

Armato: “It’ll be interesting to see how his career evolves. He hasn’t gotten to the promised land yet. He certainly is looking forward to getting there. I don’t know if it will be this year but if he perseveres, if he stays healthy, he could have an incredible career. But you don’t know, I mean look, people get injured at times, you never know. Look at Blake Griffin. The guy was like a monster, and then he had those injuries and really did debilitate him.”

“There’s a lot of people who’ve suffered injuries, especially high flyers. And you’ve seen some of the things he’s done. It’s scary. I mean, he’s fallen on his back, blocking shots, and you’re wondering if he’s okay. So, let’s just see how this thing evolves. Certainly, he’s super fun to watch. He’s a charismatic kid. And, you know, underneath it all, he’s a bit in his show-off stuff, but at the same time, I think he’s got a good heart and he’s a good kid, and people really like him.”

Armato is right that the ‘high flyers’ like Edwards are at high risk. He’s been severely prone to injuries, but when push comes to shove, he cannot sit down. He has to perform and lead his team. Edwards embraces the pain and plays through that, with the bravest of smiles. Hip injuries, twisting his ankle, fingers, and knees, anything and everything, yet he puts his best foot forward on the court.

During Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, Edwards had a scary fall on his back. They won Game 6 and assured fans he’d still play. The Wolves won the series in Game 7 and Armato was looking forward to the Conference Finals at the time of the interview, which they ended up losing. Even though Minnesota fans were disappointed by that defeat, fans still had a lot of fun watching him play.

Anthony Edwards follows Armato’s playbook

Armato elevates Edwards’ “good heart” which not enough people talk about. He’s engaging in an interview and not a braggart as he seems on court. AntMan initially accepted the MJ talk gracefully but in May, he flat out said, “I want it to stop.” He explained his reasoning. “He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.”

Even the greatest aren’t immune, though. Michael Jordan was 22 during the infamous broken foot season in 1985. Edwards entered the NBA at 19 and is 22 now making veterans reminisce rookie Jordan.

You don’t have to re-watch The Last Dance to know it wasn’t easy for Jordan to overcome that setback and very few have replicated such a comeback. The comparisons will be nothing unless Edwards maintains his physical condition and longevity.