Stephen A. Smith Compares Anthony Edwards to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan After Game 1 Performance

After a breakout season last year, Anthony Edwards was being compared to Michael Jordan during Team USA’s FIBA World Cup camp. The comparisons only grew more rampant within the NBA community after Kevin Garnett joined Shaquille O’Neal in drawing similarities with His Airness, after the 2023-24 NBA season commenced. Just before the All-Star break, KG lauded Ant for being like a rookie version of Michael Jordan. Merely a month later, the 2008 NBA champ changed the narrative completely, comparing the athletic guard to a prime 1988 version of MJ.

Michael Jordan himself also validated the youngster amidst a sensational campaign. As revealed by Smith, the five-time NBA MVP was in agreeance with Smith’s claims stating that Ant was special. A 22-year-old being compared to the GOAT can add a mountain of pressure on the young athlete. Usually, players cannot live up to such surreal expectations. However, Ant has managed to thrive despite having the benchmark set extremely high for him. And these comparisons will only amplify further if the two-time All-Star leads the Timberwolves to a deep run in the 2024 playoffs.

Smith is bearing reference to the fact that, despite the Wolves tearing the Suns apart, Anthony Edwards kept going at Kevin Durant. After the two-time Finals MVP failed to prevent Edwards from going on a scoring rampage, the latter even yelled at his GOAT, saying, “Can’t guard me. What the f

k did I tell you? What the f

k did I tell you old a

n

**!” Stephen A isn’t wrong. It was indeed spectacular to see a 22-year-old not only have the courage to talk trash to one of the greatest players of this generation but also back it right up. Hopefully, the former Georgia Bulldog can capitalize on the momentum and put up several more outings of this caliber throughout the course of the postseason.