“I’m still the No. 1 option.” Despite being on a roster with the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and more, Anthony Edwards did not hesitate to establish himself as THE star. After taking his Minnesota Timberwolves to their first Conference Finals appearance in two decades, Edwards is bursting with confidence. However, could this confidence prove to be the cause of his downfall? Dwyane Wade seems to think it could potentially be.

The Miami Heat legend put his faith in the Wolves star but is mindful that everything could change in a few seasons’ time. In an appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast with co-hosts Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero, the trio discussed who among the next generation is ready to step up after the era of LeBron and Steph. Considering all that he’s achieved in just four years in the NBA, Anthony Edwards unsurprisingly came up. And so did his ability to make claims and then (as of now) deliver. But that could change. And so can the media.

Wade may not like the fact that it could, but there’s nothing Edwards would be able to do to stop it. “What I hate is that in two years, the media’s gonna change on him. [Right now], he’s telling you what he’s going to do and he’s doing it,” Dwyane Wade said. “If he don’t get to what he’s saying, if he don’t go do it now, [the media is] going to be about what he can’t do.” He brought up Jayson Tatum’s name, who was going through the same till he won the title last season.

Back in 2022, Anthony Edwards was asked if there was a certain ceiling he was trying to reach in the NBA. His response? “I don’t think I got one. I think I can be as good as anyone.” That was in only his second season playing in the big leagues. And in the last couple of seasons, he’s proved he has what it takes to be the next big thing. That’s precisely why Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and The Kid Mero brought his name up. However, the Miami Heat legend further asserted his point.

“We all get to enjoy Anthony Edwards’ innocence right now. The media is allowing it, everyone is playing clips and laughing. We love it. But it’s gonna change really soon because the expectation is gonna be there. Not only because of his play but also because he talks.” In February, Ant-Man did an interview with Vanity Fair, where he asserted, “Oh, I think I’m the best player, for sure.” The 22-year-old may not have won the MVP award last season, but he sure had some standout performances to make everyone believe – even if it was just for a night – that he was, indeed, the best player in the league.

Remember his majestic dunk against the Pistons in January? Or his courageous self-alley-oop against the Grizzlies? Considering Edwards’ boisterous personality, The Kid Mero called Edwards the most vocal among the young bunch, featuring Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. The comedian also said that Ant-Man has no filter and is 24×7 himself. The fact that this personality could potentially change is what Wade isn’t a big fan of. He even mentioned one of Edwards’ commercials, where he calls out Melo. Carmelo had to ask the youngster to “keep my name out of commercials.”

Ant-Man has never been shy about expressing opinions, and his comments about Team USA became the talk of the town, where he called himself the No. 1 guy for the national team. As for Dwyane Wade’s perception of the Timberwolves star, the three-time NBA champion understands being on the bad side of the media, as he was termed a ‘villain’ during the Big3 era. The media would be more critical of Ant-Man not because of his playing style but because of his outspoken personality. But that’s the thing about Anthony Edwards. He’s not all talk and no show.

During the Las Vegas training camp two weeks ago, Ant-Man made his position clear on the team.

Anthony Edwards is backing up his claims so far

After Edwards made the “I’m still the No. 1 option” claim, head coach Steve Kerr loved his confidence. In fact, he even expected other Team USA players to have the same mentality. “I want them to bring their very best selves. I love that Anthony Edwards said he’s the No. 1 option… I want him to think that way,” said Kerr. The Warriors coach knows what Ant-Man is like. In the lead-up to the 2020 Draft, Kerr even told Edwards that he thought he “wasn’t working hard enough.” But since then, the Timberwolves star has proved himself.

However, during the FIBA World Cup last year, there was a difference of opinion. Edwards was told to settle for a bench role, which he disagreed with. “Of course, I wasn’t cool with it…He (Kerr) said Dwyane Wade came off the bench when Kobe played. I was like, ‘All right, we don’t have a Kobe, but all right,’” suggesting that no one on the roster could match what Bryant brought to the table.

In the build-up to the Olympics, after leading the points tally against Canada with 13, Edwards had 14 points against Australia in the second game. For the third game, too, he continued his scoring form, this time off the bench, and contributed 16 points against Serbia. So, it’s safe to say he’s proved he’s one of the best players on the team, backing up his comments. That said, coming off the bench isn’t something he’ll necessarily like, considering how effective he’s been. However, Kerr did mention that he wants to build the lineup around his ‘Big 3’ – LeBron, Steph, and Embiid. And that could potentially mean more time on the beach for Edwards.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.