Anthony Edwards has broken out in a big way during the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
The Timberwolves are in the Western Conference Finals thanks to the 22-year-old star guard, who has scored almost 30 points per game in the postseason. He is talked about as a possible future face of the NBA and has attracted Many comparisons with Michael Jordan..
That MJ comparison probably goes too far. However, there is one Hall of Fame legend who has more in common with Ant-Man, both in terms of career path and playing style.
Here’s why Dwyane Wade is better competition for the Timberwolves star.
Why Dwyane Wade is the best comparison for Anthony Edwards
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra coached Wade for eight seasons and worked with Edwards during his career with Team USA in the summer of 2023. Spoelstra immediately spotted similarities between the two.
“It’s hard to look at Anthony Edwards and not see Dwyane Wade in him,” Spoelstra said. “I’m not a guy who makes comparisons, I’m not. But the way he moves, the way he competes, the way he electrifies the crowd, yeah, that reminds me of No. 3. I feel like I’m going to back in time.”
Shaquille O’Neal, a teammate of Wade, agreed with Spoelstra’s assessment: calling edward “a young D-Wade and a young Kobe.”
There are a few reasons why those two are so similar.
Anthony Edwards has the same set of touchdowns as Dwyane Wade
Wade is easily one of the top five shooting guards of all time and used his elite athleticism to make up for a somewhat shaky three-pointer. He was a killer shooter and an unstoppable driver who found a knack for getting to his places.
Ant has a lot of that same athleticism and downhill driving ability. When he gets angry, no one stops him.
Just more imitating Anthony Edwards @Dwyane Wade. Advanced footwork to split the defense and create a dunk. I guess Wade knew what he was talking about when he said Ant could be another version of him. pic.twitter.com/fahiqk5f2b
— Key Sang (@Phantele_) March 16, 2021
Both players have great body control in the air and can perform acrobatic finishes. Their handling and speed allow them to split defenses and they have great footwork to get out of their positions.
More Dwyane Wade-like ants. Splitting traps and simply breaking through defenses effortlessly. When Wade says he sees himself in Ant, this is what he’s talking about
Absolutely one of my favorite things this season. Attacking the dribble like this is a lost art pic.twitter.com/I9Yjm5RRfu
— Key Sang (@Phantele_) May 7, 2021
The biggest difference between the two right now is in their 3-point shooting. Wade had some good years, but he only shot 29.3 percent from deep for his career. Edwards is a career 35.3 percent shooter and already seems more comfortable shooting them off the dribble than Wade.
Anthony Edwards has the same defensive tools as Dwyane Wade
What made Wade a special player and three-time champion was that he was a two-way player who used his athletic gifts to wreak havoc on the defensive end. He is remembered as possibly the best shot-blocking guard of all time.
Edwards doesn’t have the same volume of blocks, but his are just as spectacular. He had the defensive game of the 2023-24 season, preserving a win with a block on Aaron Nesmith, where he rose so high that he hit his head on the backboard.
ANTHONY EDWARDS, what a block to finish it pic.twitter.com/flqYgACNUh
— CJ Fogler’s account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) March 8, 2024
Edwards began his career as a shaky defender, but has developed into an individual threat in his fourth year. He tortured Jamal Murray to just 40.3 percent shooting from the field in the Western Conference Semifinals, and has taken it upon himself to protect the best players late in games, no matter what position they play.
Anthony Edwards is winning at the same stage of his career
Wade won his first championship in his third NBA season, taking over a Heat team and proving that he was easily the best player in that series. He had two 40+ point games in those Finals, including 42 in a pivotal Game 3 that kept the Heat from losing 0-3.
Edwards’ playoff performance is starting to look eerily similar to Wade’s championship year. He hasn’t gotten that ring yet, but he has emerged in the same way, with two games of 40 or more against the Nuggets and one against the Suns. His box score stats are almost exactly the same.
| Antonio Edwards | statistics | Dwyane Wade |
|---|---|---|
| 28.9 | Points | 28.4 |
| 6.2 | Rebounds | 5.9 |
| 5.9 | Assists | 5.7 |
| 50.4% | Field goal % | 49.7% |
| 39.8% | % of 3 points | 37.8% |
| 84.3% | Free shot % | 80.8% |
Even more than basic statistics, both players influence winning at the same level.
DARKO is one of the most respected all-in-one public statistics. It shows Edwards in an identical career arc to Wade’s during his first four seasons.
Edwards still has some time to reach Wade’s 13 All-Star selections, three All-Defensive teams, three rings and Finals MVP, but he’s on the right track. He has all the tools to one day jump into the top-five shooting guard discussion alongside Wade.
