Paul Rudd charms in "Ant-Man" as though he's a youthful Michael Jordan.

The "Ant-Man" captivates in a similar way to a young Michael Jordan.

Some consider Anthony Edwards' actions sacrilegious or blasphemous, while others see him as a reflection of the greatest basketball player in history. His rise to stardom during the NBA playoffs underscores this comparison.

A memorable scene in the NBA Playoffs 2024 occurred when Anthony Edwards outplayed Bradley Beal, leaving him in a cloud of dust after two dribbles and an aggressive drive. He then soared towards the basket, pulling off a tomahawk dunk over Kevin Durant's head. This breathtaking moment capped off a 4-0 sweep against the Suns, a team that the Minnesota Timberwolves hadn't managed to beat a single time that season.

Not long before this, Edwards had scored a crucial three-pointer against Durant in a game, and his confident "trash talk" afterward gained worldwide attention. Durant acknowledged the young player's talent, stating, "I'm so impressed with him. He's my favorite player. He's made incredible progress since entering the league. His passion for the game stands out above everything."

During the regular season, Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, guiding the Timberwolves to 56 wins and their best season in 20 years. He ended up seventh in the MVP voting and is a lock for one of the three All-NBA teams. However, his performances in the playoffs have surpassed these impressive figures, recording three games with 40 points or more, and scoring 30 or more points five times. His average in these playoffs is 30.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, with a field goal percentage of 54% and a three-point field goal percentage of 42%.

These numbers are exceptional and have propelled him into the upper echelons of the NBA. His rise to become one of the top five players during the playoffs at such a young age mirrors the development of Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, who achieved superstardom at age 22 and 23, respectively. The playoffs are where top players transform into absolute superstars, and Anthony Edwards has bypassed his predecessors.

possibly the next "Air" Jordan?

Minnesota's win against Phoenix marked their first playoff series victory since 2004. At that time, Kevin Garnett, a Hall of Famer and MVP for the Timberwolves, was still playing. The Wolves only lost to Kobe Bryant's Lakers in the conference finals that year. In a podcast in February, KG shared his thoughts on Edwards, saying, "He's like a young '84 Jordan." Since then, comparisons between the two have become more prevalent.

Both are nearly six feet tall (Edwards is 1.95 meters and Jordan 1.98), explosive and powerful jumpers, extraordinarily athletic, and dangerous on both ends of the court. Opponents find themselves anxious any time Edwards approaches the basket. Similar to Jordan, Edwards showcases not only his skills but also his personality, smile, charm, self-confidence, and showmanship of an alpha player. He works tirelessly, displaying killer instinct, leadership qualities, and a winning mentality that spread throughout the team.

Edwards reacts differently to the comparisons with Jordan. In an interview with ESPN, he expressed, "I love that they have faith in me. They're not wrong. But I don't want to be compared to someone of that caliber. I mean, I haven't achieved anything on his level yet." In December, he pleaded, "Stop comparing me to Michael Jordan. Because he's the greatest to ever play basketball and I'm not even close. I just wish it would stop."

Following Kevin Garnett's comparison, "Ant" can now respond, "I think he's definitely right. '84 Jordan. He didn't say '1996, '1997.' He said '84 - [when Jordan] finds himself. I agree with that." Journalist Chris Broussard, who is close friends with Michael Jordan, reported, "I spoke to the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, today. And Jordan said he sees similarities in their game. If Jordan says there are similarities, then there are similarities."

For the NBA, Edwards' rapid surge in popularity is a real gift. The league is currently working hard to capture the attention of a new generation of fans. Negotiations for a new multi-billion-dollar media contract are nearly complete. It's all about the best possible marketing of its own product - and a lot of money. However, the question remains: who will be the league's new face? LeBron James (39), Steph Curry (36), and Kevin Durant (35) are about to embark on their final journey into the sunset, with their glittering Hall of Fame careers drawing to a close.

In the US, there's a need for a homegrown successor, as the world's best players are currently mostly European. Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic are dominating while Victor Wembanyama has already inserted himself into the discussion about the NBA's next icon after his rookie year. Edwards is seen as a potential cure for American inferiority complexes, who still see basketball as "their" sport - even though they've lost their global dominance. Even at the humiliating defeat during the last Basketball World Cup in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines in 2023, where Germany won the gold medal, Edwards was the only American player to put on a respectable performance despite being just 21 years old. US coach Steve Kerr even said back then that Edwards "has it" - that certain something.

Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Jalen Brunson, people in the top 15, all lack the charisma of a global superstar. Edwards has the whole package. Off the court, he's approachable and down-to-earth, making him an excellent ambassador for a well-known drinks brand, a Hollywood actor, or the owner of the hottest basketball sneaker on the market right now. On the court, he pulverizes his opponents with a grin on his face and generates more social media highlights than any other player in the league.

Just "Ant"

The Minnesota Timberwolves are fighting for their lives in these Western Conference Semifinals. Denver has won three games in a row and can clinch a spot in the conference finals on Friday night. Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets are proving just how impressive they are as defending champions - and Edwards' nemesis. Right now. The youngster and his Wolves failed to beat Denver last season. This season, Minnesota showed marked improvement due to the league's best defense and Edwards' rise to superstardom. The fact that it may not be enough against the now three-time MVP Jokic and his team is one of the harsh realities of the NBA.

At this level, even the smallest details count. Edwards is ready for this stage, having already scored 43 and 44 points against Denver in five games so far, averaging a phenomenal 30.2 points. Unfortunately, his teammates haven't been able to effectively capitalize on the extra attention Edwards receives. These are also necessary steps on the road to success, painful lessons in getting to the top. Lessons that Jordan and LeBron James also had to learn before. Jordan struggled against the brutal Detroit Pistons, James against the injustice of the Boston Celtics. Only when they were physically and mentally mature and surrounded by competent teammates willing to follow their lead did they achieve their breakthrough to champion.

Edwards' rise to become the NBA's new superstar and fan favorite is complete with these playoffs. These are the difficult parts - and the part that still sets him apart from Jordan: the championships, the MVP trophies, the pure dominance. Six championships, six Finals MVPs, and five MVPs were won by "Airness" by the end of his unprecedented career. Can Edwards follow in these footsteps one day? Does he even need to?

His name and future are already glowing brightly at the age of 22, making Towns "need sunglasses." Perhaps it would be better if the ghost of the "GOAT," Michael Jordan, kept a low profile when Edwards plays basketball. And make his own mark among the greatest of all time. Accordingly, "Ant-Man" recently said, "I want people to say: This kid, Anthony Edwards, has something of Michael Jordan. But he has his own style."

Putting everything aside, I personally am enthralled by Edwards' meteoric ascent in the NBA. It causes a unique mixture of excitement and anticipation. There's no denying that Edwards possesses a massive amount of talent on the court, but it's not solely because of his basketball abilities. His personality and charisma are just as important factors. Physically, he's got the size, a smooth jump shot, and a nose for scoring; mentally, he has the drive and competitiveness to be at the top. He's just like "Ant-Man" in the movies, small but mighty with a ton of heart.

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Anthony Edwards' impressive performance during the NBA playoffs has earned him comparisons to basketball legends, with some even suggesting he could be the next "Air" Jordan. His dazzling dunk over Kevin Durant was a highlight of the Timberwolves' 4-0 sweep against the Suns, a team they hadn't beaten in the regular season.

Edwards' rise to stardom in the NBA has been meteoric, with his impressive statistics during the playoffs placing him among the top players in the league. His performances have drawn comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, who achieved superstardom at a young age in the NBA. With his exceptional skills and charisma, some even see Edwards as a potential face of the NBA, possibly filling the void left by aging superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant.

Source: www.ntv.de