Sports tournaments need compelling narratives to be considered great. An example of a strong narrative would be the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which had an exhilarating subplot of watching Lionel Messi – perhaps the greatest soccer player in history – relentlessly pursue the only major trophy to elude him. Messi delivered, and the World Cup in Qatar is fondly remembered because of that compelling narrative.
Of course, not all narratives are as strong as Messi’s date with destiny, but they can combine to make a competition all the more interesting. In the NBA Playoffs right now, we have several of those: There’s the Oklahoma City Thunder, powered by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, staking a claim to be considered the most dominant team of the decade. There’s the evergreen LeBron James trying to prove (successfully) that age has no meaning when faced with generational greatness. And there’s also Victory Wembanyama, hand-picked to be the next big thing in the game, coming of age this season.
Anthony Edwards is making his claim for greatness
Yet, flying under the radar – at least in mainstream coverage of what matters in the postseason – we have Anthony Edwards. At 24, he’s almost two decades younger than LeBron James, but he arguably has the tools to take the reins as the face of the league. There are others, not least the aforementioned Wembanyama, but Edwards looks ready now.
Things must fall into place, of course. One of James’ many superpowers was the ability to turn games when they mattered, especially in the Playoffs. Edwards’ team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, must give him the tools to succeed. For the current Playoffs and Finals betting, DraftKings Sportsbook cites the Wolves as a middle-of-the-road candidate for the NBA Championship. They’ll likely have to go through the imperious Thunder to get there.
A player who has not yet reached his peak
Edwards has time, though. It took James nine seasons to win an NBA Championship, and that included a move to Miami to be part of a superstar-filled team to fulfill that dream. Edwards is in his 6th season in Minnesota. He has a massive contract that runs until the 2028/29 season, and he has committed to staying with the Wolves. The management has promised to build around him, giving him the support he needs to deliver championships. This season might be a little too soon, but the team isn’t far away.
The wonderful thing about watching Edwards is seeing his career blossom. Young stars have good and bad patches, but Edwards seems to get better every week. Chart his PPG averages on a chart, and they go up in a straight line season by season. He is probably about five years away from his true peak, and it’s incredible to think about what he could achieve if he realizes his potential. His ceiling is very high.
It must be said that there have been many players in the past who’ve been predicted to ascend to the top of the NBA but failed to do so. That happens in sports, with injuries, inexplicable loss of form, and other factors contributing to a sudden decline. Moreover, it is perhaps unfair to compare Edwards to the freakishly talented and driven LeBron James. But the way he is going, Edwards does not need to become the next LeBron. He only needs to continue on this trajectory to be the first Anthony Edwards, staking his claim as one of the best players of this generation and becoming the NBA’s next global superstar.
