Anthony Edwards showed up and showed out at the first game of the playoff, round one between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns. Scoring 33 points and helping the Timberwolves win a 120-95 victory over his idol Kevin Durant and Co. The 22-year-old was a complete showman during the game and earned comparisons shout with Michael Jordan because of this performance.

This is not the first time Edwards has been compared with MJ. A former Boston Celtics icon made the comparison after seeing the performance from Ant-man, which helped the Timberwolves in their 2nd largest win in their playoff history. Edwards considers Durant his favorite player of all time and after scoring a three-pointer said to him, “What the f**k did I tell you, old a** n**?”

Kendrick Perkins on SportsCenter, NBA on ESPN YouTube channel revealed why he felt the comparison was appropriate—appreciating his performance in getting things done on both sides of the court. He said, “I’m seeing everything I’m seeing the 89 version of Michael Jordan.”

Praised him for getting the shots done that too in front of his favorite player of all time. Also, for putting the effort into scoring buckets at one end and then the same intensity during defensive play. “The Minnesota Timberwolves led by Anthony Edward they don’t hope you miss they make you miss and when you have a young leader like that everyone is going to follow..”

Comparison to Jordan are expected because he averaged 32.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in 1989. That too when the Chicago Bulls legend was just about  26 years old. Notably, he averaged 34.8 points in the 17 games he played in the postseason that year. So, is Perkins predicting something big from Edwards for the rest of the playoffs?

Kevin Durant’s reply to Anthony Edwards’s smack talk

With less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, Edwards scored a 3-pointer and did not stop there. While taunting Durant and staring him in the eye, Ant-man put on a show. During that phase of the game, the veteran Durant just smiled at him and did not say much. But during the press conference expressed his emotions.

When asked what the chat meant Durant said, “Yeah, it’s just basketball. Not even playoffs, it’s just hoop. You get hot, you make shots, you make tough shots, you’re gonna feel excited about yourself. “

Continued that after such plays it’s important for the defender to not get hot and put Edwards under pressure. “So it’s on me to keep coming back and show him a tough look … He got it going. He made some tough ones, just gotta live with it and be better next game.”

The Timberwolves haven’t been to the NBA finals even once in their 35th year of existence. While Durant who has played playoffs before has only experienced a clean sweep only once in his career. So who will progress between the two the Master or the Apprentice?