“The things he was doing reminds me of myself.” Not everyone gets honored by Patrick Ewing with a claim of being on the same level as him. Then again, not everyone is Jesse Edwards. The praise came after the then-college player recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks, which was just a brief taste of the player’s overall potential. In his four years at Syracuse University and then another year at West Virginia, Edwards’ basketball prowess saw a significant level, leaving an impressionable mark on many. Therefore, even though he went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves placed their bet on him by signing the player on a two-way contract.

With the signing, the Timberwolves now have two Edwards. Despite being younger than Jesse, Anthony Edwards is the current face of the franchise, having recently led the team to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2004, and continuing to lead them as the primary scorer. However, by possessing the same surname, it would not be uncommon for fans to raise the query: Are Anthony Edwards and Jesse Edwards related? Therefore, without any further ado, let us find out.

What is the relation between Anthony Edwards and Jesse Edwards?

With the exception of their mutual love for basketball, their existence on the same team, and their surnames, there is nothing else in common between the two Edwards. Jesse isn’t even of American origin, as he was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch mother and a British father. Not only is he the youngest among his siblings, but his two elder brothers, Rens and Kai, reportedly share a liking for tennis and not basketball. Jesse himself tried his luck out with tennis, golf, and swimming, but it was soccer and track and field that really caught his attention. He didn’t even start playing basketball until he was 12. A decade later, however, the sport would be the central focus of his life.

As for the other Edwards, he was born in Atlanta. Not much is known about his father, but Anthony was the third child of Chrisha Yvette Edwards, who remained close to the future NBA player’s grandmother Shirley. Tragedy struck Anthony when both his mother and grandmother passed away when he was only 14. The responsibility of raising the teenager was then passed upon to his two elder brothers, Antoine and Antony, and his sister, Antoinette Edwards. From what limited information we have of the Timberwolves star’s father, he knows that he was the one who gave the ‘Ant-Man’ nickname to him. Furthermore, Anthony’s father also shared a love for basketball.

Despite their different pasts, Anthony and Jesse have now been banded to create a future together. The 23-year-old is already leaving a mark for himself, winning the Olympic Gold Medal alongside the rest of the Team USA roster and drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan through his NBA prowess. The recently held Lakers-Timberwolves game provided the chance for Jesse to start carving his route. From the looks of it, however, the rookie still has a long way to go.

How did Jesse Edwards perform during his debut pre-season game?

With Anthony Edwards not participating in the first pre-season matchup against the Lakers, the responsibility of carrying the offense was more divided amongst the players. Contrary to what fans may have gotten used to seeing during regular season games, over 16 members of the Timberwolves roster played on Friday night. Unfortunately, Jesse Edwards wasn’t able to make the best use of the opportunity granted to him.

While he spent over 14 minutes on the court, the 24-year-old was only able to record 2 points and 3 rebounds to his name, accompanied by 0 assists. His three-pointer and free throw percentage stood at 0%, while the few points he added got his field goal percentage to 50%. Fortunately for Jesse, players like Josh Minott, Rob Dillingham, and Luka Garza carried the majority of the scoring bulk, helping the Timberwolves record their first win of the pre-season 124-107.

If Jesse Edwards’ debut showed anything, it is that it will take some time before he can reach the same pedestal as Anthony Edwards. With the 2024-25 pre-season having commenced just now, the player will get plenty of chance to prove his worth.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.