The Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Anthony Edwards entered the NBA with the reputation of being an explosive scorer. It has barely been a few months since he arrived, and he is already proving to be one of the most explosive players in the league.
Tonight, he had a potential dunk of the year entry. Facing the Raptors after just one win in seven games, Edwards didn’t want to leave with another loss.
He channeled this aggression into his game, and unfortunately, Raptors’ Yuta Watanabe had to suffer. After receiving the ball near the three-point line, Edwards dribbled past De’Andre Bembry before executing a ferocious poster on Watanabe.
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DUNK OF THE YEAR.
ANTHONY EDWARDS. #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/hmnhFvldF0
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 20, 2021
Edwards has been likened to Dwyane Wade because of their similar playing style. Tonight’s dunk was a reminder of that since Wade was also famous for his emphatic posters.
Wade recently also said that he believes Edwards can eclipse his ability. If that is true, this poster could be the start of many more to come from Edwards.
"I definitely think he can be a better player than I was. He has all the tools."@DwyaneWade has high hopes for Anthony Edwards. pic.twitter.com/0CcSdPM3eK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2021
Can Anthony Edwards step up for the Minnesota Timberwolves?
Prior to tonight’s game against the Raptors, Edwards was averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Those are good numbers till one checks out his field goal %.
He is shooting an embarrassing 38% from the field and 31% from three. There were always doubts about his shooting before entering the league, but this is an area of concern for the Timberwolves.
Edwards has shown that he can be one of the best when it comes to finishing at the rim. But the modern-NBA requires jump shooting from wing players, and Edwards needs to improve on that front. This poor efficiency is why he is nowhere near the favorites for Rookie of the Year.
He has the ability, but he just needs to stay consistent and work harder to perfect his craft. Against the Lakers, he shot 10-21 from the field and an impressive 5-10 from three.
That display also included a few clutch shots. If he can do that against the reigning champions, he can do it against anyone.
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His performances are also one of the reasons behind the Timberwolves’ poor record. If he can step up, the team can hopefully get out of the bottom of the West and fight for a playoff spot before it becomes too late.
ALSO READ – LeBron James Waxes Lyrical of Fellow Klutch Sports Member Anthony Edwards After Impressive Showing