Ever since he joined the league in 2020, every year feels like this will finally be Anthony Edwards‘ season. Although he has performed decently in the past three seasons, his numbers and performance are nowhere near what people expect from him. Known popularly as the second coming of NBA legend Michael Jordan, the Atlanta-born youngster is a fan favorite for all the right reasons. 

This year is different for Edwards. He looks more mature than ever and with a team consisting of stars like Rudy Gobert, Karl Anthony-Towns, and others, it looks like the stage is set for the 22-year-old. 

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are aging, and the NBA throne is up for grabs. With stiff competition from players like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and others, can Edwards burst into the scene this year?

Edwards has been under the spotlight for some time now

Edwards, popularly known as Ant to the NBA fanbase, has been under the limelight since his college days. Playing for the Georgia Bulldogs, the 22-year-old quickly established himself as an internet superstar. Clips of the youngster dominating his opponents on the court with ease went viral across social media platforms. Not only his flair on the court, but Ant also impressed fans and pundits with his numbers.

In just one season with Georgia, Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Moreover, he won a lot of awards and accolades in his short college stint. Ant was awarded the 2019-20 SEC Rookie of the Year award alongside being selected for the All-Freshman team and also the All-SEC team. Thanks to his brilliant achievements in just one year, the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him as the #1 overall pick during the 2020 NBA draft.

Can Anthony Edwards live up to his college hype this season?

Living up to your pre-NBA hype is not everyone’s piece of cake. LeBron James instantly comes to mind whenever talking about someone who not only lived up to the hype but has also exceeded it. 

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Now that Edwards is in the third season of his NBA career, it looks like he is ready to finally dominate and crush all the surrounding hype. Make no mistake, he has been exceptional over the past few years. However, they are not close to what people expect from him.

In his first season in 2020, the 6-foot-4 inches tall guard averaged 19.3 points. His scoring average has been in an upward trend ever since. In the subsequent seasons, Ant averaged 21.3 and 24.6 points, respectively. 

Looking at his previous performances, Edwards has stepped up his game with each passing season. This year will not be any different. Now that he has also made his debut All-Star appearance, the sky is the limit for Ant this season.

NBA GM’s across the league have greatly undermined him ahead of the season. In a survey, only 7% of voters believed they can start an NBA franchise around Ant. Moreover, he is also ranked the #4 shooting guard in the league behind names like Devin Booker and Steph Curry. Despite these shocking claims, 23% of NBA GMs believe that Edwards will have a breakout season next year according to NBA.com.

Edwards’ performance for the National Team will fuel him

Representing your National Team is a proud moment for any athlete. Edwards experienced this special moment a few months back when the Timberwolves youngster led Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. Going into the tournament, everyone expected Ant and Team USA to dominate the tournament with ease. Although they suffered a heartbreaking semi-final exit at the hands of Germany, it was a great learning experience for the youngsters.

Ant was brilliant on the court as he averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field! Thanks to his brilliant numbers, Edwards was the lone USA star to make it to the All-Star Five of the FIBA World Cup 2023.

He was nominated alongside other NBA stars like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite failing to bring home the ultimate glory, this experience ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season will do wonders for Edwards’ confidence, which already seems to be really high.

Why is Edwards often compared to Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the greatest NBA players and even athletes to exist. Naturally, being compared to him means a huge thing for any player.

In the current generation of NBA players, Edwards is often compared to the Chicago Bulls legend. Interestingly, his off-court appearance has played a bigger role than his basketball prowess in this comparison.

The NBA All-Star has an uncanny resemblance to the billionaire NBA legend. Moreover, his playing style also resembles Jordan from his early days in the league. While being compared to Jordan sure sounds like fun, it brings a lot of added pressure on any individual. However, Edwards is the right man to carry his legacy forward.

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What are your predictions for Anthony Edwards? Let us know in the comments below.