Joel Embiid Wants to be Like Anthony Edwards; Stephen A. Smith Obsessed Too

By 
·January 20, 2024
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 20, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) drives for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Everyone has been talking about Anthony Edwards over the last 24 hours, after his monster 2nd half on Thursday night in a Minnesota Timberwolves victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Signature games usually come with signature moments, of which Ant had a few the other night.

Related: Anthony Edwards Reminded NBA World vs Grizzlies That He is the Future

But his unassisted off-the-backboard alley-oop will probably be the one signature moment from Thursday’s win that ends up on his career highlight reel. And we can count Philadelphia 76ers big man, Joel Embiid, as one of many impressed parties around the league.

Joel Embiid wants to be like Anthony Edwards

One night later, with the Sixers in Orlando vs the Magic, Embiid pulled off his own version of the dunk. Afterwards, when asked about why he did it, Joel called Edwards one of his top-3 favorite players in the NBA right now and that he did it out of respect for him.

Reporter: What prompted you to do the move where you threw the ball off the backboard?

Embiid: “Umm… I’m not gonna lie, obviously I’ve done it before, this is not the first time. I just, I like to challenge myself and, you know, Anthony Edwards is one of my top-3 favorite players in the league. He’s up there. I mean, dude is so nice and I saw it last night and I was like, ‘Well if he can do it, why can’t I do it too?’. I’m a big fan of his. I love him and I love his game. So I was like, ‘If I’m a big fan of him, and when I grow up I want to be like him. So if he does it, why can’t I do it too?'”

Stephen A. Smith Says Ant is Box Office

The only person more impressed by Ant, than Joel Embiid, might be ESPN superstar media personality, Stephen A. Smith, who begged the NBA to give him more Ant on national TV during his show, ‘First Take’.

On national television, Stephen A. passionately declares that even his dislike for cold weather won’t stop him from coming to Minnesota. Why? Because he acknowledges the extraordinary talent of Anthony Edwards, whose star power potential reminds him of the all-time basketball showstoppers like MJ, Kobe, and Vince Carter.

“Listen to what I’m saying to you on national television. Right now, when I see Anthony Edwards, I see, in the making, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, MJ… Michael Jordan. Listen, y’all know I hate cold weather. I’ll fly to Minnesota to see that brotha. He is box office. Anthony Edwards, you hear what I’m saying to ya’ll. He is special. He ain’t there yet, in terms of the names I mentioned, but he is coming and he is box office. Worthy of walking through the turnstiles to see that brotha play. I want the NBA to put the Minnesota Timberwolves on national television even more. Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Related: Are Minnesota Timberwolves on Pace for Best Season in Franchise History?

But Stephen A. Smith wasn’t done obsessing over Edwards, after First Take went off the airwaves on Friday. Smith has a simulcasted self-titled radio show, which he posts on his Youtube channel.

Friday afternoon, you could hear or watch him there, even going as far as to say that Ant will win a championship for the Minnesota Timberwolves one day. Big if true…

“This brotha, is something special. This brotha — ladies and gentleman ima be premature with this — I think this brotha is gonna win an NBA championship someday, in Minnesota. I think he’s gonna bring an NBA championship to that team.“

Don’t be surprised if you see Stephen A Smith at the Target Center in the near future and, if he’s right, we shouldn’t be surprised if Ant brings a Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Minneapolis too…

But Joel Embiid and Stephen A. Smith are only two of many NBA voices that cannot stop talking about our superstar, Anthony Edwards. Seeing a Minnesota Timberwolves player get this much media attention is unusual, but well deserved and a long time coming.

Related: NBA Insider Wants Timberwolves to Trade Kyle Anderson for Doug McDermott

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