Anthony Edwards has gradually improved in each of his first four seasons in the NBA, and while it may not look like it on paper, he took his biggest step forward last year. Georgia product went from being a star to the de facto leader of the Minnesota Timberwolves , which is a giant leap to make.
Ant-Man led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. While they came up short, there are many reasons to be encouraged by Edwards. If you ask Mark Jackson , though, this one overlooked trait could be what is helping "Ant-Man" morph into a superstar.
Jackson highlights this key element of Ant's game
The Timberwolves gave Anthony the keys to their offense last season, and he took them and never looked back. His numbers (25.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, 46.1 FG%) haven't massively improved from his third season, but it was hard to miss his impact when you watched him play.
While there are several reasons why the T-Wolves guard has made this jump, Jackson believes it's due to one key thing that not many fans would expect. The former coach looked at Ant's ability to get coached as a key reason why he can continually improve yearly.
"Anthony Edwards listened to his coach, followed the instructions, and ultimately, that makes life so much easier when you're willing to get rid of the basketball and make plays," he said on The Mark Jackson Show . "Now, you're not only a threat to score, but you're a threat to facilitate."
"And I love the fact that he's a young franchise superstar basketball player that still enjoys being coached, and he takes what the coach tells him, puts it into his game, instills it into the game plan, and he winds up seeing himself advance to the Western Conference Finals because he was willing and wasn't stubborn. It's a compliment to his greatness as a player and his greatness as a guy that's willing to be coached," Jackson added.
Related: Carmelo Anthony shares how if Jayson Tatum had the same aura as Anthony Edwards, he would've been the next face of the NBA
Mark makes a great point about Edwards' growth
Most fans would not credit this as Anthony's most important trait, but Jackson makes a good point. In an era when players feel like they don't have to listen to anyone, Ant's desire to continually learn and grow has made him stand out.
Look no further than this past postseason, where Edwards initially struggled with some of the double teams he was facing. He listened to Chris Finch and the rest of the Timberwolves coaching staff, who urged him to act more as a playmaker, resulting in a deep playoff run.
Suppose the 6'4" guard can continue facilitating the ball as he did in the postseason. In that case, he figures to take another step forward next year. In addition to everything else, he already does exceptionally well, and Ant-Man could become a perennial MVP candidate.
There's a reason why coaching is so important in sports, and Minnesota's young star is proof of that being true. If he continues to listen to what his coaching staff tells him, there's no telling how high Edwards' stock will soar.
Related: Paul Pierce says Anthony Edwards is the clear leader of the 2024 Dream Team: "It's like his personality took over the U.S. team"
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