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 shooting guard, who has been good for almost 30 points per game in the postseason. He's being talked about as a possible future face of the NBA and has drawn many comparisons to Michael Jordan.
That MJ comparison is probably going a bit too far. There is a Hall of Fame legend who shares more in common with Ant-Man, though, both in terms of career arc and style of play.
Here's why Dwyane Wade is a better comp for the Timberwolves star.
MORE: Why Anthony Edwards' shoes also get compared to Michael Jordan
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 Team USA runs 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 for comparisons, I'm not. But the way he moves, the way he competes, the way he electrifies the crowd, yes, that reminds me of No. 3. I feel like I'm going back in time."
Shaquille O'Neal, a teammate of Wade's, agreed with Spoelstra's assessment, calling Edwards "a young D-Wade and a young Kobe."
There are a few reasons those two are so alike.
Anthony Edwards has the same killer scoring set as Dwyane Wade
Wade is easily a top-five shooting guard of all time who used his elite athleticism to compensate for a somewhat shaky 3-pointer. He was a killer shot-maker and unstoppable driver who found a knack for getting to his spots.
Ant has a lot of that same athleticism and downhill driving ability. When he gets a head of steam, nobody is stopping him.
Just more Anthony Edwards imitating @DwyaneWade. Advanced footwork to split the defense and create a dunk. Guess Wade knew what he was saying 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 make acrobatic finishes. Their handle and speed allow them to split defenses, and they have great footwork to get off their post fadeaways.
More Ant looking like Dwyane Wade. Splitting traps and just effortlessly carving through defenses. When Wade says he sees himself in Ant, this is what he's talking about
— Key Sang (@Phantele_) May 7, 2021
Absolutely one of my favorite things this season. Attacking off the dribble like this is a bit of a lost art pic.twitter.com/I9Yjm5RRfu
The biggest difference between the two at this point is in their 3-point shooting. Wade had some good years but was only a career 29.3 percent shooter from deep. Edwards has hit 35.3 percent in his career and looks more comfortable shooting them off the dribble already than Wade ever did.
Anthony Edwards has the same defensive tools as Dwyane Wade
What made Wade a special player and a three-time champion was that he was a two-way player who used his athletic gifts to wreak havoc on the defensive end. He's remembered as arguably 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 play of the 2023-24 season, preserving a win with a block on Aaron Nesmith where he soared so high that he hit his head on the backboard.
ANTHONY EDWARDS, what a block to end it pic.twitter.com/flqYgACNUh
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) March 8, 2024
Edwards started his career as a shaky defender, but he has become a lock-down one-on-one menace in his fourth year. He tortured Jamal Murray into just 40.3 percent shooting from the field in the Western Conference Semifinals, and he's taken it upon himself to guard the hottest players at the end of games no matter what position they play.
Anthony Edwards is winning at the same stage in his career
Wade won his first championship in his third NBA season, taking over a Heat team and showing that he was unquestionably the best player in that series. He had two games of over 40 points in those Finals, including 42 in a pivotal Game 3 that prevented the Heat from going down 0-3.
Edwards' playoff performance is starting to look eerily similar to that Wade championship year. He hasn't gotten that ring yet, but he's broken out in the same way, with two games of 40 or more against the Nuggets and one against the Suns. Their box score statistics are almost exactly the same.
| Anthony Edwards | Stat | 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% | 3-point % | 37.8% |
| 84.3% | Free throw % | 80.8% |
Even more than the basic statistics, both players are impacting winning at the same level.
DARKO is one of the most well-respected public all-in-one statistics. It shows Edwards at an identical career arc as Wade through their first four seasons.
Edwards still has a while to go to catch Wade's 13 All-Star selections, three All-Defensive teams, three rings and Finals MVP, but he's right on track. He has all of the tools to one day jump into that top-five shooting guard discussion right alongside Wade.
