While some fans and analysts have tried to compare Anthony Edwards' playing style to Michael Jordan, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Chris Hines offered a different comparison from another sport.
In an interview with The Athletics' Jon Kaczynski and Joe Vardon, Hines likened Edwards to Mike Tyson, citing his relentless approach when sensing fear in opponents.
"And I'm like, 'Oh yeah, they messed up. It's over,'" Hines said. "Doesn't matter who's in front of him. He's going to figure out how to lock you down or score on you every time and annihilate your whole team."
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Comparing Edwards to Jordan is premature since Edwards hasn't had enough time to build a comparable resume. At 22, he's in his first extended postseason run. When Jordan was 22, he was in his second NBA season but only played 18 games due to a broken foot. He came back the next season and began a historic run, leading the league in scoring for seven consecutive seasons from 1986-87 to 1992-93 and winning three straight titles before his first retirement.
Edwards has downplayed the Jordan comparisons, telling ESPN's Malika Andrews that he wants to be recognized for his own style, though he did make a playful jab at the Hall of Famer.
"I want people to say, 'This Anthony Edwards kid, he's got his own style. He's maybe got a mix of Michael Jordan in him,'" Edwards said. "But I've got a trey ball, I can shoot the three. So, I think that makes me a little different than Michael Jordan."
The Tyson comparison is intriguing since Tyson was unbeatable in the ring until he faced an opponent he couldn't knock out early. Edwards showed resilience in the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, helping the Timberwolves win Games 6 and 7 after being pushed to the brink.
A two-time All-Star, Edwards is clearly emerging as a superstar. He was named to the All-NBA team for the first time this season. The Georgia native holds the top four scoring games for a Timberwolves player in the playoffs, three of which occurred this postseason.
If Edwards can lead the Timberwolves to an NBA title this season, his already-high profile will skyrocket.