Is Edwards really the next Jordan?

Michael Jordan won six NBA championships in his career, winning three in a row, twice [Getty Images]

It’s a comparison that has followed 22-year-old Anthony Edwards throughout the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA play-off run.

But as the seconds ticked down on a dramatic series win over the Denver Nuggets, the guard waved their disappointed fans goodbye – and you started to see it. Right there was a glimpse of the look and mindset of one of the greatest basketball players of all time – Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

Now Edwards has a chance to take the Timberwolves to their first NBA championship as they gear up to take on the Dallas Mavericks, led by Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, in the Western Conference final series. Game one is on Wednesday night (01:30 Thursday BST).

A lot of players in years gone by have been held up as the next Jordan. Edwards, though, could end up being the closest we get.

Edwards averaged 27.7 points against the Nuggets across the series [Getty Images]

What Edwards does have in common with Jordan is a relentless mindset matched with an incredible skillset.

There’s a confidence in his make-up – and a determination to bounce back from setbacks.

Over and over again in the Netflix documentary The Last Dance, Jordan talks of taking things personally. When things didn’t go his way, when something or someone upset him, he used it as motivation. It was an outlook that took him to six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

Things have not always gone Edwards’ way in this year’s play-offs. It has only made him more determined.

On 14 May, the Timberwolves’ dream was fading. They had just lost 112-97 in Denver. They trailed 3-2 in their Western Conference semi-final series.

Two Timberwolves victories, including a recovery from 20 points down in game seven, turned it all around.

In the media conference after that win, a reporter had a question for Edwards. He asked: “Did you tell the locker room staffer in Denver you were going to be back for game seven?”

Edwards was in before the questioner had finished.

“Hell yeah,” he said. “I was in there. They know. I told them: I’ll see you for game seven.”

That…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/edwards-really-next-jordan-163842502.html

Author : BBC

Publish date : 2024-05-21 16:38:42

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