Is Anthony Edwards just Wiggins with a motor & ambition ?

[johanliebert]

They’re not alike at all it’s time you basketball philosophers begin watching games not numbers.

[AbeVigodaLive]

They’re not alike at all it’s time you basketball philosophers begin watching games not numbers.

Is this comparison only being made because they're both #1 picks who started their careers in the same city?

Otherwise, I don't understand the player comparison at all.

They play nothing alike.

[thinktank]

Wiggins is a better defender

Maybe?

Wiggins can’t board like Edwards, nor are his feet as quick. Wiggins is taller, but he’s not as good a shot blocker as Ant.

[Catchall]

Wiggins' problem is that he's always had a very limited handle and footwork, so he never really unlocks his athletic potential. Edwards has better timing, change of direction and coordination in general.

[dc]

Edwards has better skill and footwork. Better rebounder. Better ability to get to the basket and overall just a better feel for the game.

He still needs to get more efficient scoring the ball, but overall Edwards is just a guy who gives the opposing team a lot more to worry about.

[Wolveswin]

Wiggins is a better defender

Wiggins now…maybe.

We will see if in 7 years Edwards can out due Wiggins on D.

[wolves_89]

Im seeing Antman is 6'4, he looks and plays much bigger
His moniker is perfect

He doesn't look like 6'4'' to me.

Westbrook is 6'4'', isn't he? Edwards seems way bigger than him.

Edwards supposedly grew 2 inches this past year. So that would make him 6'6.

I can't remember who, but someone in the organization said Ant has grown 2 inches since he was drafted. Since he was listed as 6'4" last season he probably should be listed as 6'6" now. Just looking at him compared to last year, he is clearly bigger.

[wolves_89]

Having seen both Wiggins and Edwards first years in the league, I can comfortably say Edwards is significantly better than Wiggins was at the same age. In terms of improvement over time, Edwards is getting better at a very fast rate while Wiggins improvement has always come at a frustratingly slow pace. I'll also say that Edwards' ceiling is higher than Wiggins ever had due to having a much better handle and being considerably stronger.

[GregOden]

Im seeing Antman is 6'4, he looks and plays much bigger
His moniker is perfect

He doesn't look like 6'4'' to me.

Westbrook is 6'4'', isn't he? Edwards seems way bigger than him.

Westbrook is 6'2 1/4 barefeet from his combine measurements.

[HabsAndDubs]

If he’s wiggs with a motor, when he eventually signs with Miami or the Knicks, he’s gonna become Jordan?

[hardenASG13]

They wont be in the same class. Those who love to criticize Edwards over ts % and defense will run out of things to say soon. Hes continuing to improve quickly (handle is better this year, on ball D has improved), he completely takes over games for stretches and is a top level athlete in the nba. Insane how overlooked what hes doing is as a 20 year old number one pick, putting up 23 a game with improved numbers across the board. No reason to think he wont peak around 30ppg, hes got the obvious confidence of a superstar if you watch him.

[IG2]

Edwards is a far superior athlete compared to Wiggins.

Athleticism is more than just straight line speed and jumping ability.

[Pelly24]

Without looking at measurements and all that, the 2 players seemingly have the same capabilities on the court. Eerily similar athleticism and skillset...one is just more consistent and "fiery" ?
Am i off here..

I don't think so. I broke this down in a thread I started about athleticism, ability to use it. Anthony Edwards is fast and bouncy like Wiggins, but he is more fluid in his movements. Anthony Edwards has mobility like Kyrie Irving and DWade and MJ. Those guys can all get low to the ground in like, a sprinter's position when they dribble, and this helps them explode and operate in tighter spaces. They are also all able to move around the ground more fluidly. When they run, they look like wide receivers/cornerbacks/running backs because they can start, stop east/west/north/south, things like that. Wiggins has always been extremely upright and his movements always appeared way more stilted. He's got light feet for defense, but look at how stiff his hips are when he dribbles. He measures out well in every way, but it doesn't translate. I couldn't see Wiggins playing football or soccer.

The best athletes have all of these qualities, or most of them. MJ has the mobility to go along with goat/speed/quickness/bounce. Same with LeBron. Anthony Edwards has that.

Besides all of that, Edwards is simply more skilled. He can handle the ball, he has some passing instincts and his jumper and ISO moves just appear to be smoother. Wiggins has next to no actual polish to his offensive games. If we'd all paid attention to the right things in high school, we would've seen that Wiggins wasn't that great. I watched an entire game against acquille Carr once and I was like...wiggins is doing nothing. He literally just blended in. A lot of college was like that too. He's very still and has no bball instincts.

All of that said, Wiggins is a 19/6 guy playing great defense on a contending team. He has found a very nice niche in GSW. Doesn't need to create his own shot, etc. He's actually a better player than Edwards right now. Wiggins is 26 and very durable and there's no reason he can't maintain 17-20 ppg on good efficiency with good defense. I'd say this version of Wiggy is easily worth $25 million per year, so good on him.

[Pelly24]

Wiggins' problem is that he's always had a very limited handle and footwork, so he never really unlocks his athletic potential. Edwards has better timing, change of direction and coordination in general.

The change of direction and coordination are crucial parts of athleticism Wiggins is weak in. He's not like a guard in his mobility, more like a forward. Edwards is a guard with the power, speed and build to be an elite athlete even by NFL standards.

[xAIRNESSx]

Edwards feels a little more fluid in his movements where Wiggins is a bit more rigid and stiff.

[DroseReturnChi]

Ant is way more coordinated, handle is way more natural than Wiggins' ever was. For as much raw athleticism as Wiggins had, he was uncoordinated as hell, especially coming out of college.

Ant has #1 option in his future. Wiggins never did, at least not for anyone that watched him in college.

he is a guard why are you comparing to a lebron james type hybrid forward?
and so much revisionist history wiggins was paid max because he was the number 1 option until towns.

[Pelly24]

Ant is way more coordinated, handle is way more natural than Wiggins' ever was. For as much raw athleticism as Wiggins had, he was uncoordinated as hell, especially coming out of college.

Ant has #1 option in his future. Wiggins never did, at least not for anyone that watched him in college.

he is a guard why are you comparing to a lebron james type hybrid forward?
and so much revisionist history wiggins was paid max because he was the number 1 option until towns.

The thread calls for this comparison, that's why it's being made. Wiggins was a nominal No. 1 option, but when your team doesn't smell the playoffs and you barely score at league average efficiency, it's just not that quite good enough.

[Ayt]

They are nothing alike in terms of functional athleticism.

[jordanwilliams6]

Didn’t Edwards literally say last year that’s he not really into basketball and he only plays because he’s good at it?

Obviously things could have changed and he seems to play with passion but that was a really interesting comment in relation to ‘ambition’.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

These is player x actually player y or could prospect x become prospect y comparisons are just too much sometimes.

One thing I'll say is look at behind the arc shooting particularly early in their careers. Not the same.

IF that is so different...guess what...they aren't the same player! WAOW!