“He told me he wanted to be the best fullback in history! I said, “You know there’s a guy called Michael Jordan? He replied, “I know, I have to catch up with him!” » Wolves youth development officer Chris Hines recalls when he first made contact with Anthony Edwards. It was three years ago, after the Draft, and in the columns of Star Tribunethe young rear confirms these words.
“Of course I’m targeting MJ!” It will be difficult, but I am targeting it” responds Edwards, selected to the All-Star Game this season. Maybe it will be for next season if he confirms his level of play seen against the Nuggets in the playoffs.
“I gave a lot… I know what I have to work on. I know where I need to improve, and I just want to be in the best shape possible. My season was good, but it could have been better,” he said. “I want to be in better shape than everyone else in the league. Basketball will come by itself. It’s like second nature to me. I just want to be in the best shape possible.”
Learn to read defenses
Another axis of progress, the reading of the defense. Having become one of the best attackers in his position, Anthony Edwards has discovered new defenses this season, and he must adapt and punish them better. “I have improved a lot. I know that [s’ils me prennent à deux], they want me to stay wide. I’m going to make the right move for three or four minutes, then they’re going to open up the defense, and I’m going to start attacking again. Making the right choice is taking the shot. That’s kind of my mindset for next year.”
We must therefore expect an even more aggressive Edwards next season, and he admits that he already takes pleasure in thwarting the opposing plans. “The funniest thing I’ve seen on the field was when teams were throwing different covers and the other team’s defensive coach was throwing his arms up and saying, ‘That’s not working. Let’s try something else”. This is the most motivating part. They try to stop me and I try to find solutions so that they don’t stop me. This is very fun “.
Take inspiration from Luka Doncic
He admits that he takes Luka Doncic as a model for his ability to take his shots regardless of the defense. “It’s about keeping your cool while you’re taking your shot. I sometimes try to rush my shot when I see that it is very contested, but I still manage to do it in time. I have to learn to keep my cool. It’s a bit like Luka Doncic who never rushes his shot, no matter how close the defense is. I started to learn that as the season progressed”.
Thanks to this progression, Anthony Edwards feels able to join the race for the top scorer of the season. “I don’t think my superpower is going to the circle. I am a scorer. My pride is not in going to the circle. I hate when people say that. If I give it my all, it’s to finish in the circle. I can score as much as the best in the NBA. I’m making progress, but after this summer, I think I’m going to take a big leap forward. »
