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‘Brightest star in world’ – Timberwolves know what Michael Jordan predicted in Anthony Edwards’ greatness as Finals await
There is only one Michael Jordan. But when Air Jordan calls a young NBA player “special,” it’s clearly time to start paying attention to everything that Anthony Edwards does in the playoffs. Anthony Edwards is on the verge of stardom with MinnesotaGetty The 23-year-old guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves has already taken down LeBron James‘ Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry‘s Golden State Warriors in the playoffs. Now, Edwards is back in the Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals could follow. “[Ant] is the brightest star in the world,” Minnesota teammate Julius Randle said on TNT. “Anywhere he goes, all eyes on him.” MJ was ahead of the curve in praising the highly athletic and confident Edwards, who is averaging 26.5 points on 44.5 percent shooting in the playoffs while leading the best Timberwolves team in 20 years. “That brother is special,” Jordan told ESPN in April. “No question about it.” Jordan also told Fox Sports that he sees some of himself in Edwards’ aggressive playing style, which regularly involves no-holds barred trash talking. Last year, Edwards followed a cold sweep of Kevin Durant‘s Phoenix Suns with a triumphant Game 7 road win over Nikola Jokic and the then-defending champion Denver Nuggets. Karl-Anthony Towns was supposed to be the franchise face for the Timberwolves, but “Ant-Man” took that title and KAT was traded to the New York Knicks. “In Dat Mode,” Edwards posted on Instagram. “#LockIn.” He’s back in the Western Conference Finals and only 23-years-oldGetty GettyMichael Jordan has been impressed with Edwards’ aggressive playing style[/caption] Jordan set the bar for all NBA players and it’s hard to even get close to The GoatAFP Edwards once told an interviewer that he could do anything at a high level — tennis, swimming, hockey … or cook food. “Whatever you need me to do,” he said. “I bet I’ll be A1 from day one,” Since Air Jordan changed the league in the 1980s and ’90s, the NBA has promoted individual stars over teams, using the biggest and best players to build a worldwide brand. Now, it’s Edwards’ time to shine on an international basketball stage. It wasn’t long ago that Edwards was being humbled by Steve Kerr when the Warriors were on top of the basketball world. “I thought I was working hard,” Edwards said. “When (Kerr) came, I was going through drills and he kept stopping them, like, ‘That’s all you got? That’s all you got?’ “And I’m like, ‘Bruh, I’m going hard as you want me to go. What you want me to do? I’m sweating crazy.’ “ Edwards still ended up going No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft to Minnesota, which had recently gone through a 13-year playoff drought and spent several seasons as the worst team in the NBA. In May of 2025, Ant-Man is dominating with Jordan’s trademark supreme confidence and intensity. “Mr. Edwards,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley said. “Ant-Man is here to stay.” Something special is happening with Edwards. The same young wolf who was publicly praised by Jordan after being criticized by Kerr.
There is only one Michael Jordan.
But when Air Jordan calls a young NBA player “special,” it’s clearly time to start paying attention to everything that Anthony Edwards does in the playoffs.
The 23-year-old guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves has already taken down LeBron James‘ Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry‘s Golden State Warriors in the playoffs.
Now, Edwards is back in the Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals could follow.
“[Ant] is the brightest star in the world,” Minnesota teammate Julius Randle said on TNT.
“Anywhere he goes, all eyes on him.”
MJ was ahead of the curve in praising the highly athletic and confident Edwards, who is averaging 26.5 points on 44.5 percent shooting in the playoffs while leading the best Timberwolves team in 20 years.
“That brother is special,” Jordan told ESPN in April. “No question about it.”
Jordan also told Fox Sports that he sees some of himself in Edwards’ aggressive playing style, which regularly involves no-holds barred trash talking.
Last year, Edwards followed a cold sweep of Kevin Durant‘s Phoenix Suns with a triumphant Game 7 road win over Nikola Jokic and the then-defending champion Denver Nuggets.
Karl-Anthony Towns was supposed to be the franchise face for the Timberwolves, but “Ant-Man” took that title and KAT was traded to the New York Knicks.
“In Dat Mode,” Edwards posted on Instagram. “#LockIn.”
Edwards once told an interviewer that he could do anything at a high level — tennis, swimming, hockey … or cook food.
“Whatever you need me to do,” he said. “I bet I’ll be A1 from day one,”
Since Air Jordan changed the league in the 1980s and ’90s, the NBA has promoted individual stars over teams, using the biggest and best players to build a worldwide brand.
Now, it’s Edwards’ time to shine on an international basketball stage.
It wasn’t long ago that Edwards was being humbled by Steve Kerr when the Warriors were on top of the basketball world.
“I thought I was working hard,” Edwards said. “When (Kerr) came, I was going through drills and he kept stopping them, like, ‘That’s all you got? That’s all you got?’
“And I’m like, ‘Bruh, I’m going hard as you want me to go. What you want me to do? I’m sweating crazy.’ “
Edwards still ended up going No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft to Minnesota, which had recently gone through a 13-year playoff drought and spent several seasons as the worst team in the NBA.
In May of 2025, Ant-Man is dominating with Jordan’s trademark supreme confidence and intensity.
“Mr. Edwards,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley said. “Ant-Man is here to stay.”
Something special is happening with Edwards.
The same young wolf who was publicly praised by Jordan after being criticized by Kerr.
