When people take Anthony Edwards’ name with Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, everyone knows the expectations will be sky-high. Edwards has already built an All-NBA resume before turning 25. But as per a two-time NBA champion coach, there’s still another level waiting to be unlocked.
The Missing Piece in Anthony Edwards’ Offensive Arsenal
Appearing on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, former NBA head coach David Fizdale broke down exactly what separates Edwards from the all-time great tier, and what can push him there.
Edwards has evolved rapidly since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2020. He’s a four-time All-Star (2023–2026), a two-time All-NBA selection, and one of the youngest players ever to surpass 10,000 career points.
He’s improved his three-point efficiency to near 40% in stretches, became the youngest player in NBA history to hit 1,000 career threes, and even joined Bryant and Kyrie Irving as the only players to post 55+ points with nine or more threes before age 25.
But Fizdale believes Edwards hasn’t fully tapped into one critical dimension of his game: the mid-post and elbow attack.
“I think there’s still a lot there that he can tap into,” Fizdale said. “I’m a D Wade, Bron, Joe Johnson… that was my little group I used to work with. They haven’t gotten Ant live ball catches at the elbow or the post yet. What happens with that first step and he’s two steps from the rim?”
Fizdale pointed out that Edwards already has the fadeaway in his bag. The problem isn’t skill, it’s usage.
“He’s just not getting it there (post) and putting footwork and fakes together. Think about how much fouls he would draw. He’s already crazy talented, but that part of his game, oh my god. We would be looking at one of them next guys.”
Former NBA coach David Fizdale on what Anthony Edwards needs to work on to enter Kobe, Wade, MJ, and LeBron level:
“I think there’s still a lot there that he can tap into. I’m a D Wade, Bron, Joe Johnson, that was my little group I used to work with. They haven’t gotten Ant live… pic.twitter.com/deWGqQMOof
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 3, 2026
That “next guy” tier includes Bryant, Jordan, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James, players who mastered scoring from every level of the floor.
Fizdale then referenced a pivotal moment in LeBron’s career, when he sought out Hakeem Olajuwon to refine his post game.
“Think about what changed Bron, he went to see the Dream… When Bron got that (post game) everything changed.”
The comparison isn’t random. Once LeBron added polished footwork, counters, and the ability to punish smaller defenders on the block, his efficiency and playoff dominance skyrocketed. The same evolution helped Bryant and Jordan age gracefully and remain unstoppable even as athleticism tapered off.
Like them, Edwards also boasts elite explosiveness, a lethal step-back, and improved playmaking. Adding structured post touches can make a whole lot of difference between him being a superstar and a generational icon.
Fizdale made it clear he sees that ceiling. “I would love to be in the gym with Ant.”
Edwards Is Already Ascending, But There’s Another Gear
He’s currently averaging nearly 30 points per game and ranks among the NBA’s top scorers. He recently earned his third career Western Conference Player of the Week honor while leading Minnesota to a 3-0 stretch. The Timberwolves sit firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture, and Edwards has delivered 30-point explosions with regularity.
Beyond stats, his impact stretches off the court. After being fined $25,000 for tossing a ball into the stands during a game, Edwards still captured headlines for a heartfelt gesture, sending a personalized video message to a young fan who beat cancer, calling the recovery “God’s gift” and honoring a promise to wear the fan’s orange band for the rest of his career.
That blend of charisma, dominance, and leadership is part of what fuels the belief that he can reach the very top. Plus, he already looks like a perennial MVP candidate. But Fizdale isn’t concerned with MVP honors. He is talking about legacy.
Jordan and Bryant both didn’t just score in volumes. They controlled the game from the mid-post, lived at the free-throw line, manipulated opponents with their footwork, and turned half-court possessions into guaranteed points when it mattered the most.
If Edwards can consistently do elbow catches, refined footwork, and layered counters out of the post, opponents will be left with impossible choices. If they double him, Edwards picks them apart. And if they come guarding him, he draws fouls at an even higher rate.
This is how he can shift from an explosive scorer to an inevitable scorer. And as per Fizdale’s observation, this is how Edwards can be squarely in the same conversations with Kobe, Jordan, LeBron, and Wade.
