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Anthony Edwards hype is reaching another level

One of the five or six best players in the NBA in 2023-24? That's the word...

Joe Nelson

Anthony Edwards hype is reaching another level
Anthony Edwards hype is reaching another level /

Anthony Edwards playing on a global stage for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup has served notice to the NBA that the 22-year-old Timberwolves star has reached a new level. 

"He's unquestionably the guy," Team USA coach Steve Kerr said after Edwards scored 34 points to lead the U.S. over Germany on Sunday, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "You can see he knows it. But now the team knows it, and I think the fans see it. ... He genuinely believes he's the best player in the gym every single night. And he's such a dynamic young player. I think he's taking a leap."

It's not just Kerr who sees greatness in Edwards. Kevin Garnett has also noticed something different and exciting about Edwards. 

"He looks different. You know how in the summer time you don't see nobody for like two months and then all of a sudden see somebody and you're like 'that motherf***** looks good," he said. "That's how Anthony Edwards looks to me. Ant Man, he just looks super motivated, bro."

"Anthony Edwards will be an MVP candidate this year," tweeted Tim Reynolds, the Associated Press reporter who actually has an MVP vote. 

Bill Simmons, in the midst of his talk about the idea of trading Damian Lillard for Karl-Anthony Towns, called Edwards a guy "who's clearly going to be one of the best five or six guys in the league." 

That would put Edwards on a level with the likes of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Devin Booker. 

Stephen A. Smith questioned Edwards's jump shot but said that "if he develops a consistent jump shot" he's "going to be a superstar in this game" and that he'll become one of the faces of the NBA. 

Edwards and Team USA have completed the exhibition portion of the FIBA tournament and now it's on to the real games when they face New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 26. The game tips off at 7:40 a.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN2 or ESPN+. 

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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17. 

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