Comparing Anthony Edwards' age-22 season to Michael Jordan's in 1984-85
When burgeoning superstar guard Anthony Edwards led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA playoffs, he started getting compared to Michael Jordan.
After a second consecutive 40-point game – a playoff career-high 43 points, to be exact – to take Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets in Denver, those comparisons are gaining even more traction.
It isn't just about the stats, though. There's his gravity-defying dunks, his ability to mystify defenders, his body control down low and while he's in the air. There's also the confident swagger that comes with all of that dominance on film and success in the box score.
Given all of the comparisons, it is only fitting to see a side-by-side look at each player's stats during their age-22 season. Here's how that looks.
OPINION: Anthony Edwards has looked a lot like Michael Jordan, and it's OK to say that
Anthony Edwards-Michael Jordan age-22 season comparison
Here's how the two players' stats compare during their age-22 season. Notably, this is Edwards' fourth season in the NBA, whereas Jordan turned 22 years old during his rookie season after three years at North Carolina.
Also of note: Basketball Reference list the 1985-86 season to be Jordan's age-22 season, but he missed 64 games with a broken foot in that season. Instead, we're using the 1984-85 season to give a more comparable sample size.
Edwards (2023-24) vs. Jordan (1984-85) regular season stats
Games Played | Points per game | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point percentage* | Free throw percentage | |
Michael Jordan | 82 | 28.2 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | .515 | .173 | .845 |
Anthony Edwards | 79 | 25.9 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | .461 | .357 | .836 |
Edwards (2023-24) vs. Jordan (1984-85) playoff stats
Games Played* | Points per game | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point percentage | Free throw percentage | |
Michael Jordan | 4 | 29.3 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .436 | .125 | .828 |
Anthony Edwards | 5 | 33.4 | 7.8 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | .532 | .436 | .865 |
Anthony Edwards reacts to Michael Jordan comparisons
As various fans and analysts continue to praise Edwards' game, the Timberwolves' guard doesn't want to keep hearing comparisons to Jordan.
"I want it to stop," he told FOX Sports. "He's the greatest of all time. I can't be compared to him."
Anthony Edwards doesn't want to hear the MJ comparisons anymore. pic.twitter.com/bUvAFqsisE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 6, 2024
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Date: Monday, May 6
Time: 10 p.m. ET
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Edwards and Michael Jordan: Comparing their age-22 seasons