Anthony Edwards is arguably the brightest young American star in the league, and this season, he has shown plenty of frustration. The team that made it to the Western Conference Finals last season started slowly, and Edwards is looking for ways to get back up there. In his latest effort to improve his play, Edwards sought the help of Michael Jordan about playing through double teams.
Michael Jordan Seeks Wisdom from Michael Jordan
Anthony Edwards recently talked about his frustration with double teams. But with Karl-Anthony Towns no longer in a Timberwolves uniform, teams are focusing a lot more on Edwards. That frustration got the best of him a few weeks ago. Now, we have learned that Edwards decided to ask one of the greatest players in the NBA how to handle double teams.
During Saturday’s national television broadcast of the matchup against the Denver Nuggets, the play-by-play broadcaster Mark Jones revealed the news. Commentating during the game, he said,
“He’s not afraid to reach out with some of the greats of the game. Some of the greats, the old heads, and get some advice. I was told by somebody in his circle that three weeks ago he reached out to Michael Jordan for advice on how to handle some of the double teams and traps that he’s seeing.”
Anthony Edwards Frustration with Double Teams
Recently, Edwards talked about his frustration with the double teams he is facing this season. Speaking to reporters after a game, he talked about the playing style that he has to change. Speaking specifically about passing out of double teams, he said,
“That’s a good brand of basketball, but it’s not how I want to play, of course. I’m only 23, I don’t want to just be passing the ball all night. But the way they’re guarding me, I think I have to. Them doubling me, definitely, it’s like, bro, what is going on? I am trying to figure it out. I don’t know what to do honestly, but it’s not fun. I don’t want to look like I’m not trying or not as good as I am, because I am, but I can’t show it because I’m getting double-teamed.”
Some fans might call this immaturity and selfishness. All of the great players have had to go through it and learn that trusting your teammates is the way to win a championship. Michael Jordan actually managed to win a title once he started passing out more and trusting his teammates more.
MJ the Right Guy for Counsel
Jordan is the right player to give advice on double teams. Few players in the history of the league have been better at beating double and triple teams. During his prime in the 1980s and 1990s, teams focused their entire defensive scheme around stopping Jordan. Yet, he still managed to win a scoring title 10 times. Seven of those came in consecutive seasons from 1986-87 to 1992-93. Besides MJ, only Wilt Chamberlain has more than four scoring titles.
Ant is Not the Next Michael Jordan
The conversation between Edwards and Jordan might naturally reignite some of the comparisons that have been flying around last year. But even Ant knows that he is not the next MJ. Last year, while many were comparing him to His Airness, Edwards rebuffed the claims. He said,
“I want it to stop. He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.”
Is Ant Changing His Playstyle?
This year, Edwards is leading the league in three-pointers made. He is on pace to make 341 three-pointers this season, something only Steph Curry and James Harden have done before. Steph has done it three times. In 2015-16, Curry hit 402 three-pointers at a 45.4% efficiency. Harden did it during the 2018-19 season, hitting 378 three-pointers at a 36.8% efficiency.
So far this season, Ant has hit 187 three-pointers at a 42.5% efficiency. He is leading the league in made three-pointers. No other player in the top-five made threes has made more than 40.5% from beyond the arc.
It is evident that Edwards has changed his way of playing to make up for the loss of Towns. How far he can take the Timberwolves by doing so remains to be seen.
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