Anthony Edwards’ journey has been a true rollercoaster. From a child without his father’s presence, to losing his mother at 14, to now, one of the mainstays of the NBA and Team USA. It’s a larger than life story like the man himself.

His eldest brother, Bubba sparked Edwards’ love for basketball. The Ant-Man was just another kid who wanted to be like his older brother. In an interview with The Athletic, Edwards stated, “I wasn’t really a basketball guy growing up, but watching him, I decided to follow in his footsteps,” he further explained, “If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be up here. I just want to thank him.”

The brothers would seek refuge at a fancy high school on the other side of town just to get away from their neighborhood violence. Bubba shared that they used basketball as an outlet to find joy amid the pain and the constant threat.

Online sources indicate that Anthony Edwards’ father, Roger Caruth, did not play a major role in his upbringing. It was Yvette, along with his grandmother Shirley, who raised Edwards and his siblings. Roger did give Edwards his iconic nickname “Ant-Man,” which later helped him secure a shoe deal with Adidas.

Tragically, on January 5th, 2015, while in the 8th grade, Edwards lost his mother Yvette to cancer. She was only 43 years old. Cut to 8 months later, he faced another heartbreaking loss, losing his grandmother to the same disease. Edwards has chosen to rock the No. 5 jersey to honor his mother and grandmother, who passed away on the fifth.

Future Hall of Famer?

Comparisons to legends like Michael Jordan are already being made, with Timberwolves icon Kevin Garnett praising his talent and potential. While Jordan was 21 in his rookie season, averaging an impressive 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, Edward’s stats in his fourth season are not far behind, averaging 26.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game.

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The Timberwolves, currently leading the Western Conference, showcase the collective effort of the team, but also stand as a testament to the 22-year-old’s hard work and potential future Hall of Fame career.

The Minnesota Timberwolves face the Milwaukee Bucks on February 24th. With the support of his tightly-knit family, Edwards has nothing but the all timer status waiting for him regardless of whether he shatters Jordan’s records or not.

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