The 'Showtime Podcast with Michael Cooper' features a segment called 'Coop's Comps,' in which the Lakers legend tries to draw parallels between current and former NBA players. In a recent episode , Anthony Edwards was the name discussed.
As the co-host mentioned, the T-Wolves star has been compared numerous times to basketball icon Michael Jordan since a stellar 2023-24 campaign. However, Coop dismissed that comparison and ultimately named another match for 'Ant-Man.'
"I would compare him to Kobe [Bryant]. Kobe-ish—a little smooth, shot creator. Tenacity; got a little funk with him," the former Laker remarked.
'Ant-Man' is emerging
Edwards has undoubtedly cemented his place among the premier players in the game right now. He guided his team to a third-place finish, earning his first All-NBA selection on the Second Team. However, it was primarily the guard's impressive postseason performance that caused a buzz: 'Ant-Man' averaged outstanding stats of 27.6 points, 7 boards, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game as his team made it to the Western Conference Finals.
The way the 6'4" guard dominated reminded many of prime Jordan's performances in the '90s with the 6-time title-winning Bulls. Beyond their exceptional scoring abilities, examples of similarities include great athleticism, a versatile all-around game, and a noticeable two-way prowess. Noticing these, many couldn't help but compare Ant to MJ—or at least to an early version of the NBA icon.
Edwards' mindset is still lacking
When Coop brought up Bryant as a comparison, his co-host Gallo quickly pointed out one concern, stating that there is a noticeable difference in the respective "personalities" of Ant compared to the "intense" ones of Mike and, more importantly, Kobe.
Safe to say that in NBA history, only a few players have managed to establish the kind of personality that Jordan and Bryant have. While MJ was a hyper-competitive individual on the court, Kobe coined the term' Mamba Mentality'—a philosophy of relentless determination and work ethic, emphasizing the pursuit of excellence and resilience in the face of challenges.
In response to the concerns that Anthony has not yet reached this level, Coop, however, said that he thinks this killer mindset in Ant-Man is "coming out."
The Atlanta native has undoubtedly shown that progress since entering the league as the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Although the 22-year-old Edwards arguably still has work to do on his mental approach on the court, he has the time and the potential to eventually master this aspect on his way to becoming an NBA all-time great in the ranks of MJ and Kobe.
Related: “We would scare the s*** out of people” - Michael Cooper names a roster that'd beat the '92 Dream Team and the '24 Olympic team
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