Anthony Edwards, Ant-Man to you, is the best player on the planet.
I said it, you didn’t.
Soon, you’ll agree. “Best” in the NBA, like cookies or anything else, is subjective. It certainly has nothing to do with merit – if that were the case, Nikola Jokic would be this year’s MVP instead of the presumptive Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The NBA mixes up “best” with “due” or “owed.”
Not me. I use my eyeballs and my heart. And they tell me Ant is the face of the NBA, or should be.
I would start a team with Ant above all. That’s not to say, with all the sublime talent, he’s by far the most gifted. But he’s just as otherworldly skilled as anyone. When he does an of-the-century type play, check his John Collins dunk or Aaron Nesmith block – it sucks the air out of you like a Jokic flat-footed hook can’t.
And Ant has earned the rarified air in which he lives. I know he was drafted No. 1 overall, but he went to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who inhabit fly-over country and haven’t been relevant in two decades. His raw talent was undeniable, but he spent numerous hours working on his shot and sharpening his ridiculous moves. Ant doesn’t fit the narrative of youth lacking work ethic.
After playing for the 2023 FIBA National Team, Ant went from the frozen tundra to the national consciousness. In no time, he stood out among the elite players on his team and the international stars he faced. Coach Steve Kerr, who certainly knows generational talent, started him in all 8 games and frequently mentioned him post-game. He became a global name.
He parlayed that success into Dream Team status at the Olympics. Even among LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, he fit in, and then some. His twitchiness, athleticism, and spirit gave USA the jolt it needed against stiff competition. He rightfully stood next to James as the gold was placed around his neck.
Last season, Ant indelibly impressed himself on the Minnesota fan base, especially in the playoffs. He dazzled in Minnesota’s sweep of the Suns, their on-paper superiors. Indeed, he finished the season of his childhood idol, Kevin Durant.
The pinnacle of the season, though, was the series defeat of the reigning champs. With that victory, the fans allowed themselves to believe. Minneapolis was worthy of a title-contesting team, naysayers be dawned. Ant did the impossible; he gave hope to a state conditioned to be also-rans.
Ant will save the NBA. James is great, but old. Same for Durant. Does anyone know if SGA can speak? Or Cade Cunningham or Jalen Suggs?
In contrast, Ant had a smile and a supernova presence. He’s eminently quotable. Interviewers and live show producers may hold their breath when he opens his mouth, but that makes it all the more fun, doesn’t it?
And he has an edge. If we are true to ourselves, and this article is all about honesty, we like our heroes with an edge. We belly laughed when he told Charles Barkley to bring his ample rump to Minneapolis, and in wide-eyed amazement, we gawked at him telling Durant he was too old. Give me Ant over Jayson Tatum, just as I’d take Barkley over Grant Hill.
Minnesota will never, even to the very end of time, have the cachet of the Los Angeles Lakers. Like attempting to out-write Dylan, it would be foolish to try. Lakers have the big names, and yet it’s Ant who sizzles. I can admire James’ bull-in-a-china-shop strength and Luka’s hand-eye coordination. However, in this match, Ant and his gravity-defying antics send shivers down the spine.
I’m glad to see corporate America is engaging with the Ant-Man phenomenon. With his youth and infectious smile, why wouldn’t they? The public is smitten. If Ant-Man is selling it, we’re buying it!
True to form, Ant-Man has stared down the icon James and the superstar Doncic and, with bravado and skill to back it up, took home court advantage from the Lakers. With his play and persona, Ant-Man is a savior to the NBA – just like any superhero.