Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is the NBA’s future, and the future looks absolutely terrifying for every other team in the league. Born on August 5, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, and selected first overall by Minnesota in 2020, Edwards has evolved from a supremely talented prospect into a legitimate top-five player in basketball — the kind of guard who combines explosive athleticism with a competitive swagger that borders on disrespectful and a personality so magnetic that he makes superstars look boring.

In 2024-25, Edwards averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game across 79 games, and the truly frightening part is that he is still getting better. His drives to the basket generate highlight-reel contact and finish with dunks that should require a parental advisory warning. His three-point shooting continues to improve, his defensive intensity has sharpened, and his 2024 Western Conference Finals run proved he has the postseason mentality to match the regular-season production. The Timberwolves posted 49-33, and Edwards was the reason for virtually all of it.

The Jordan comparisons are overused and premature, but Edwards’ charisma, marketability, and sheer athletic dominance invite them regardless. For Australian fans, Ant-Man represents the most compelling reason to stay up late — his performances are guaranteed to produce at least one moment that goes viral, and his press conferences are almost as entertaining as his games. The NBA is desperate for its next global icon. Edwards is not auditioning for the role. He is already living it.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Anthony Edwards plays guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves and is the future face of the NBA, if the NBA has any sense. The first overall pick of 2020 averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game in 2024-25 with the kind of explosive athleticism, fearless confidence, and cultural magnetism that the league’s marketing department dreams about. He is 23 years old, he is getting better every season, and the rest of the league should be very, very worried.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com