Anthony Edwards says he's the best player in the NBA
The confidence dripping from Anthony Edwards is flowing like the Mississippi River. Making a jump in his third year in the NBA, Edwards is fresh off his first All-Star Game – where he was LeBron James' first pick – and ready to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves down the stretch run of the regular season and into the playoffs.
During All-Star Weekend Edwards had a sit-down conversation with ESPN's Malika Andrews, who queried Edwards about who he thinks is the best player in the NBA.
"I think myself. I think myself because I play both sides of the ball," said Edwards, without batting an eye.
The 21-year-old star then boldly said his ceiling is "higher than anybody's."
Edwards is clearly one of the top young stars in the game. Ja Morant and Luka Doncic made their big jumps in their third years. Doncic was 21 like Edwards and Morant was 22 years old. Here's how Edwards stacks up statistically in Year 3 compared to Doncic's and Morant's third years.
- Edwards: 24.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.5 AST, 53.2 eFG%, 17.8 PER
- Doncic: 27.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.6 APG, 55.0 eFG%, 25.3 PER
- Morant: 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 53.0 eFG%, 24.4 PER
Doncic and Morant posted better Player Efficiency Ratings (PER) but they also had higher usage rates. That can be connected to the fact that both were/are lead ball-handlers whereas Edwards has spent the bulk of this season as the off guard until a recent move to put the ball in his hands more often. .
Fueling Edwards is his desire to have the world see him.
"I feel like I'm the underdog," Edwards told Andrews. "I was the No. 1 pick and people still don't understand. People still walk up to me and was like, that first time seeing me play was yesterday and like, 'I didn't know you was that good.' So I feel like I still got something to prove."
Edwards believes "something special" is within reach this season if the Timberwolves can stay out of the play-in tournament, which would mean finishing as a top six seed in the West. They're currently a half-game behind sixth place Dallas, two games from fourth place Los Angeles (Clippers) and three games behind third place Sacramento.
His goals within the next few years: "MVP. Definitely a ring, or at least go to the Finals. I gotta do something. And just always be in the top of the West."
When he's done playing in the NBA he wants to be known as: "The best."
