Anthony Edwards is making a very literal pitch for that Michael Jordan MVP trophy. Kevin Garnett is the one pushing Ant-Man for MVP. Now he’s giving Air Jordan-esque levels of performance and making KG’s case for him. The Timberwolves legend was left reeling after the Wolves youngster went 44 points in the 113-11 game against the Pacers today.
“Ant Man with a 40+ piece and the game winning BLOCK? 88 Mike shyt,” Garnett posted on X after Edwards’ big game. In the same game, he had three assists and 6 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Michael Jordan had many 40+ point games. The most famous 44-point game he had was in 1989. That is remembered in pop culture history as the game with ‘The Shot.’ Pre-championship Jordan made the most thrilling buzzer-beater to end to end the game 101-100 for the Bulls.
Garnett could’ve been referring to any of the 1988 games, a season rife with Jordan’s competitive stream, when he had a series of 40+ point games. He scored 50 points against the Cavs and 46 points against the Celtics that year to name a few highlights. He won MVP and DPOY that year.
Edwards’ phenomenal night has brought back that old NBA Twitter joke that he’s Michael Jordan’s son. He served more than one Mike-like moment particularly when he cut off Aaron Nesmith’s layup attempt to tie the game in the last quarter and injured his head on the rim. That game-saving block could be a strong contender for the best defensive play of the season. For 2004 MVP and 2008 DPOY, Kevin Garnett, this is validation.
Kevin Garnett is a proud mentor
Patrick Beverley compared Edwards to ’84 Jordan when he was recording some of the best stats of his early career. The Big Ticket wholeheartedly backed the comparison. More NBA veterans are convinced that the 22-year-old could secure his first MVP title soon.
KG was one of the first few to put the NBA “on notice” about Ant. He securely put Edwards in the same conversation as the foremost MVP contenders too. “Ant Man want all the smoke. He’s an early MVP with me. I’m just watching his temperature. Luca [Doncic], I got Ant man in there, I got [Nikola Jokic] in there. Them three right there playing different. They got that ‘it.’ You’ve got to throw Giannis [Antetokounmpo] in there. Giannis dang near averaging 44 [points per game] this last week.”