Anthony Edwards says Michael Jordan can't guard him

Edwards says he would school anyone, even the greatest of all time.

© Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is a confident young man who’s in the midst of having the best season of his four-year professional career. With Edwards averaging 23.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season, the Timberwolves have been the most surprising team in the NBA, as they lead the stacked Western Conference standings with an 18-5 record.

Although Edwards wishes that the comparisons to Michael Jordan would stop, he asserted in an interview with Speedy Morman of Complex that the GOAT himself would not be able to guard him in today’s NBA.

Stop the comparisons

The 22-year-old may be cocksure but he’s aware of where he stands in NBA history, hence his desire to have the comparisons to Jordan stop.

"I just want them to stop," Edwards said. "Because he's the greatest to ever play basketball and I'm so far from it."

Anthony Edwards on MJ comparisons: "I just want them to stop. He's the greatest to ever play basketball. And I'm so far from it." @Complex: "Could MJ guard you?"
Anthony Edwards: "Hell nah! No." pic.twitter.com/lywMR4zqoE

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 14, 2023

Edwards has a solid point; after all, Jordan was already averaging 35 points per game in his fourth season in the NBA. By then, he was also a four-time All-Star on his way to a storied and decorated career wherein he’d win six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, and five regular season MVP trophies.

Brash statement

However, when asked by Morman if Jordan would be able to guard if he were playing in the NBA today, Edwards confidently blurted out, “Hell nah. No.” Edwards was not able to explain properly why he has such a belief other than saying he really believes it.

While this statement is certainly a bit brash and has no basis in fact, given the lack of evidence to back it up, Edwards makes one valid point: that the NBA of today is not the same as when Jordan was playing and that there are certain athletes who have an edge over him due to modern advances in athleticism, training methods, and conditioning.

At the same time, the fact remains that Jordan was not only a gifted offensive player but also one of the fiercest defenders of his era. His Airness was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive team nine times and was even crowned as the Defensive Player of the Year during the 1987-1988 season.