Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty ImagesAnthony Edwards was excellent in the Minnesota Timberwolves' Game 1 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, notching 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
And that performance even left an impression on NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player in the game's history.
"That brother is special," Jordan told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon, as Smith revealed on Monday's First Take (5:00 mark). "No question about it."
There's no question that Edwards is one of the ascendant young stars in the game. He's already been a two-time All-Star at the age of 22 and is fresh off setting career highs in points (25.9 PPG), assists (5.1 APG) and field-goal percentage (46.1 percent) this season, all while appearing in 79 total games.
That helped to pace a 56-26 season for the Timberwolves, good for the No. 3 seed in this year's playoffs and a first-round matchup with the Suns.
His respect around the NBA is growing. In a player poll run by The Athletic's Sam Amick and Josh Robbins, 10.3 percent of 136 voters said they would pick Edwards first if they were building a franchise from scratch. Only 20-year-old rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama (27.9 percent) and two-time league MVP Nikola Jokić (27.2 percent) received more votes.
He probably earned some respect from one of his NBA heroes, Kevin Durant, during Game 1 as well after an exchange that went viral. After hitting a three, Edwards had a bit of sauce for Durant as the two went back to the other side of the court:
Bally Sports North @BallySportsNORTALK THAT TALK, ANT!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaisedByWolves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaisedByWolves</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/egFCB5SbCR">pic.twitter.com/egFCB5SbCR</a>
Bally Sports North @BallySportsNORA story in four parts<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WolvesBack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WolvesBack</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjBTsXTS8A">pic.twitter.com/HjBTsXTS8A</a>
It was a highlight moment for the young star.
"I think everybody here knows that's my favorite player of all time," Edwards told reporters about the exchange with Durant. "That was probably one of the best feelings ever in my whole life, for sure."
"You get hot, you make tough shots, you're going to feel excited about yourself," Durant added. "He got it going."
Yes he did. Enough to catch the attention of a legend like MJ.
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