NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 02: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to the press after losing to the North Carolina Tar Heels 81-77 in the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana.Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
After Anthony Edwards’ star turn in this year’s NBA playoffs, people have been pumping him up as the next Michael Jordan.
Mikę Krzyzewski says it would be a good idea to tap the brakes. Here’s what he said about it, according to CBS Sports:
“People should just slow down comparisons. Jordan is as good as anyone who has ever played, Anthony Edwards is 23 years old. Michael Jordan did it his entire career. Jordan is bigger and a little bit longer. But in this day and age, Edwards has a chance to be that perimeter superstar.
“We are in a climate in which people want to give lists and comparisons. When you do it over a period of time is when you show just how great a player you are. I think Anthony Edwards will do that, but let’s give him some time to do it.”
Seems about right.
Edwards has rare talent, but most players take a few years to achieve greatness. There are exceptions of course. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dr. J. were all phenomenons from Day 1.
Jordan was a sensation from Day One but it took him a few years for the Bulls to put the pieces around him that allowed him to succeed and some more time for him to understand what winning championships required.
For all of his talent, Edwards is 23 and has a lot to learn and only time and challenges can teach him what he needs to know. But the journey is going to be fascinating.
