Anthony Edwards is one win away from sending LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers out the NBA Playoffs with a first-round exit.
The talented 23-year-old has become one of the best young faces in the league.
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He is extremely confident, yet he backs it up with consistent excellence on the floor. Edwards was magnificent in Game 4 for the Minnesota Timberwolves in its 116-113 victory against the Lakers, posting a game-high 43 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the field. “Ant-Man” drained five of 10 3-pointers and made 14-of-17 free throws to hold off Los Angeles. He also put in nine rebounds and six assists, while being physical with James on the defensive end. The T’Wolves are young, but Edwards refuses to let his teammates get pushed around.
He carries the same confidence that made Michael Jordan a six-time champion and arguably the greatest basketball player ever. Edwards had one game in this series — Game 2 — where he did not record an assist, and it was the lone game Minnesota lost. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder loves to attack, has improved his shooting touch, and gets others involved.
He has the Lakers in trouble as the series returns to Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday. Kendrick Perkins, a 2008 NBA champion, appeared Monday on ESPN’s First Take. Perkins has Edwards winning a league championship before Luka Doncic.
“Anthony Edwards is going to win a championship before Luka Doncic. … Anthony Edwards is a better all-around basketball player than Luka Doncic.”@KendrickPerkins praises Ant as a top five player ???? pic.twitter.com/r8gL6vdras
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 28, 2025
“Anthony Edwards is built different,” Perkins said. “Anthony Edwards is a better all-around basketball player than Luka Doncic. When I look at what he’s doing, not only did he send KD [Kevin Durant] home last year, he sent Nikola Jokic home last year, but now he’s about to send LeBron and Luka home this year. They [Minnesota T’Wolves] are going to win this series and think about this … in the next round he could possibly be facing Steph Curry. What if he sends them home? He absolutely has a chance to send Steph Curry packing. This man is just built different. It’s not just the 40+ points, assists, and rebounds, but he defends his a** off. He wanted smoke with LeBron, he wanted smoke with Luka, he wanted smoke with Austin Reaves. … That’s what I like about him. I am looking at Anthony Edwards and I’m saying to myself ‘he is a top five player in the game today.'”
Significant praise to Edwards from Perkins, and it is warranted.
ESPN analyst expects Anthony Edwards to ‘step up’ in Game 3 versus Lakers
Edwards is a certified baller with a chance to send the greatest player of this generation home in the first round.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
