Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards sought advice from Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, this offseason, and shared insights from their conversations on Media Day.
Edwards revealed the Chicago Bulls icon gave him pointers on how to score more proficiently in the post and mid-post areas, a skill set that the G.O.A.T. excelled at.
“[He helped me with] getting to my spots, pulling up, shooting over the defender,” Edwards said Monday during Media Day, via ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.
The “best tip” he received was Jordan’s secret to backing down players in the post.
“I think the best tip that he gave me is that most people lean on people in the post with their [butt], and he does it with the top part of his back,” said Edwards, while pointing toward his right shoulder. “So I think I learned that from him.”
“I think the best tip that he gave me is that most people lean on people in the post with their ass, and he does it with the top part of his back. So I think I learned that from him.”
Midrange Game a Priority
Taking a cue from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, and other midrange maestros around the league, Edwards worked tirelessly on his midrange game this offseason. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Edwards spent the summer watching tape of Jordan and Kobe Bryant, the two best midrange scorers in history.
I’ve been told this offseason, Anthony Edwards’ number one focus and new area of development is the post-up game: the mid-post, the high-post, low-post,” Charania told on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on September 23.
“Establishing a mid-range game and the fadeaway shot from the post. I’m told he’s been watching a lot of tape of Kobe [Bryant] and MJ, studying their game and how they were able to get the shot up from the post-up game.”
Led NBA in Threes
Edwards was viewed as a subpar shooter fresh out of college from Kansas, but has improved significantly in that department since turning pro. Last season, Edwards made 320 threes at 39.5%, a year after making 190 threes at 35.7%. The significant uptick in numbers meant that Edwards led the entire NBA in made threes.
Can “Ant Man” make a similar leap in his midrange game this season? Last year, he attempted only 2.7 shots from the midrange area, nearly six fewer than SGA and Kevin Durant, two of the most efficient scorers in the NBA. Only 30% of Edwards’ overall shot attempts came from the midrange area, while another 19% came in the paint area.
Edwards believes that his midrange game stands to benefit from his improved handles, another area he worked on tirelessly this offseason.
“My physical therapist, D-Hines, he’s the best in the world by the way, he gave me these gloves, ball handling gloves,” Edwards said.
“I think that was the best idea he’s ever had, and me and C-Hines, have been working on ball handling all summer. And I’ve never been able to handle the ball this good in my life.”
Edwards averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season, while maintaining 45/40/84 shooting splits. He made the All-NBA Second Team for a second consecutive year and seventh in NBA MVP voting.
Anthony Edwards Reveals ‘Best Tip’ Michael Jordan Gave Him