Stephen A. Smith Reveals Michael Jordan’s Ultimate Acclaim for Anthony Edwards After Game 1 Heroics vs Suns

Anthony Edwards is ‘HIM’. During the first game of the first-round series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns, Ant Mania took center stage. Edwards recorded 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists as he led the T-Wolves to a fairly comprehensive 120-95 victory over the Suns. Many have praised Anthony Edwards for stepping up when the lights are the brightest.

Anthony Edwards’ “clutch gene” has even earned him comparisons to a certain Michael Jordan. Several fans and analysts believe that Ant has the potential to be special. And according to ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, Jordan shares the same belief. During the latest episode of ‘The First Take’, Stephen A. Smith stated that MJ told him “that brother (Anthony Edwards) is special. No question about it.” 

While Anthony Edwards garnered all the plaudits, players like Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert made significant contributions. KAT scored 19 points in 27 minutes of playing time. Meanwhile, Rudy notched up 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. However, they were helped by an out-of-sorts Suns’ performance. Even Stephen A. Smith criticized Phoenix on First Take as he said, “You see somebody coming, how do you stop their momentum? You stop their momentum by saying, ‘Yeah, you coming, but dammit, I’m here.’ We didn’t see that Saturday.”

Having handled the triple threat of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker quite well in the first match at home, fans would expect the T-Wolves to gain a foothold on the series when they next face the Suns on 23rd April at home. But are the Minnesota Timberwolves equipped to make a significant playoff run?

Can Anthony Edwards lead the T-Wolves to the 2024 NBA title?

The emergence of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been one of the stories of the 2023-24 season. After a mediocre 2022-23 season, few expected the T-Wolves to be a title contender. They finished the season as the 3rd seed in a fiercely competitive Western Conference. The stellar performances of Anthony Edwards have been one of the primary reasons behind their impressive season.

Anthony Edwards has averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 79 games this season. As a result, he was voted into his second consecutive All-Star game with his teammate Karl Anthony-Towns. Apart from Ant Edwards, the Timberwolves also have the DPOY frontrunner in Rudy Gobert. Following a dismal 2022-23 season, many wrote off Gobert. However, he has bounced back in some fashion this season.

Rudy Gobert has been the lynchpin of Minnesota’s No.1 ranked defense. The T-Wolves have the best defense in the league, with a defensive rating of 109. With such a stingy defense, they have a legitimate chance at winning the NBA title. However, their relative inexperience in the playoffs could derail their title charge. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!