Anthony Edwards may be just 23 years old, but he’s already compared to Michael Jordan. Irony? Edwards has never actually seen the legendary Chicago Bulls play.
Born two months after Kobe Bryant secured his second championship with the Lakers, Edwards missed firsthand witnessing other greats currently being measured.
To fill this knowledge gap, Edwards relies heavily on his trainer, Chris Hines. Chris Hines took on the role of a basketball historian for the young Timberwolves star.
Hines educates Anthony Edwards about the legendary games that go beyond the dunks and game winners that dominate social media.
He teaches Edwards about the key support characters who helped him achieve the greatest moments ever. This is an important lesson for naturally alpha players with hero ball tendencies.
“Jordan had Steve Kerr,” explained Hines. “He had (John) Paxon. LeBron (James) had Booby Gibson at times. He really did make those shots, those that make timely shots.”
Hines emphasized the importance of Edwards understanding complementary works. “Through the history of the game, it’s the ‘Robert’ Hollies and others. And if he doesn’t study that kind of thing, he’ll keep slamming his head against the brick wall.
According to Hines, Edwards acknowledges his struggle to evolve beyond his heroball tendencies. The gap in the young stars’ knowledge of NBA history can lead to humorous moments during film sessions.
“As Kobe hits Rick Fox (with a pass), we see the Kobe clip. ‘Who is Rick Fox?’ He didn’t know who Rick Fox was,” Hines revealed.
“But he sees him hit the shot, so he really understands the history of the game and how it repeats itself (with him).”
Edwards’ basketball education has already produced results in court. While teammate Mike Conley still describes him as a “go-go-like guy,” Edwards shows his playmaking growth during the playoffs.
In the series against the Golden State Warriors, where Minnesota is currently taking a 3-1 lead, Edwards has scored twice in four games.
His willingness to share the scoring load with Julius Randle has been a key factor in the Timberwolves’ success.
Edwards has gotten better in his game and is learning from greats. The Timberwolves are ready for a deep playoff run with the young superstar.