Anthony Edwards may be just 23 years old, but he’s already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan. The irony? Edwards never actually saw the Chicago Bulls legend play.
Born two months after Kobe Bryant secured his second championship with the Lakers, Edwards missed witnessing firsthand other greats he’s now being measured against.
To bridge this knowledge gap, Edwards relies heavily on his trainer, Chris Hines, who has taken on the role of basketball historian for the young Timberwolves star.
The education of an NBA superstar beyond highlight reels
Hines is educating Anthony Edwards about legendary games beyond the dunks and game-winners that dominate social media.
He’s teaching Edwards about the vital supporting characters who helped the all-time greats achieve their greatest moments, an important lesson for a naturally alpha player with hero-ball tendencies.
“Jordan had Steve Kerr,” Hines explained. “He had [John] Paxson. LeBron [James] had Boobie Gibson at times. Guys who would really make these shots, timely shots.”
Hines emphasized the importance of Edwards understanding the complementary pieces: “The [Robert] Horrys and whatnot, throughout the history of the game. And if he doesn’t study that type of stuff, then he’s going to keep bumping his head against a brick wall. So it’s been a good transition for him to see it.”
Photo by David Berding/Getty ImagesDiscovering basketball’s supporting cast, as Edwards doesn‘t know who Rick Fox is
According to Hines, Edwards has acknowledged his struggles to evolve beyond his hero-ball tendencies. The young star’s knowledge gaps about NBA history sometimes lead to humorous moments during film sessions.
“We’ll watch clips of Kobe when he hits Rick Fox [with a pass]. Ant’s like, ‘Who’s Rick Fox?’ He had no clue who Rick Fox is,” Hines revealed.
“But he sees he hit the shot. So he’s getting a really good understanding of the history of the game and how it’s repeating itself [with him].”
Photo credit should read MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty ImagesTransformation paying dividends as The Timberwolves surge in playoffs
Edwards’ basketball education is already producing results on the court. While teammate Mike Conley still describes him as a ‘go-go kind of guy‘, Edwards has shown growth in his playmaking during the playoffs.
In the series against the Golden State Warriors, where Minnesota currently holds a commanding 3-1 lead, Edwards has recorded five assists twice in four games – above his regular season average of 4.2.
His willingness to share the scoring load with Julius Randle has become a key factor in the Timberwolves’ success.
Edwards is getting better at his game and learning from the greats. The Timberwolves are set for a deep playoff run with their young superstar.