Trevor Ariza: Anthony Edwards is the 'best player right now'

"I feel like he's the best player in the league right now. He's my favorite player in the league right now."

© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Has Anthony Edwards gone from "next big thing" to "best in the league" this season? According to former forward Trevor Ariza he has.

"[Nikola] Jokic is one of the best but I feel like Anthony Edwards is the best player right now," Ariza told Shannon Sharpe in a recent appearance on Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast. "Anthony Edwards a [bleeping] dog. I feel like he's the best player in the league right now. He's my favorite player in the league right now."

Ariza played for 10 teams in his 18-year NBA career, winning the 2009 NBA Finals with the Lakers. 

The fourth-year guard is a big reason the Wolves sit atop the Western Conference with a 13-4 record, leading the Nuggets by a game-and-a-half. Edwards leads the team in minutes (35.1) and points (26.2) per game while improving on just about every part of his game this season.

Ariza said Ant would be the first person he takes if he was constructing a team of players under the age of 25, over the likes of San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama and Dallas' Luka Doncic.

Edwards missed his first game of the season Thursday night in the Wolves' 101-90 win over the Jazz. The 22-year-old guard sustained a right hip pointer injury after a fall in Minnesota's 106-103 win over the Thunder on Thursday, head coach Chris Finch said the injury is "not long term."

Edwards injury 'not long term' according to Chris Finch