Kevin Garnett Calls Anthony Edwards an ‘Alpha,’ Compares Confidence to LeBron, Wade

Andrew PetersMay 21, 2024

C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images

Former Minnesota Timberwolves great Kevin Garnett had high praise for the team’s new star Anthony Edwards.

On The Stephen A. Smith Show on Monday, Garnett complimented Edwards’ confidence and how he has risen to the occasion in the playoffs thus far.

“I feel like he’s been the alpha of every series that he’s been in,” Garnett said (46:00 mark). “I don’t know if Ant Man can out alpha Luka [Dončić] and Kyrie [Irving]. But listen, he has the energy. Man, I haven’t seen a kid with this much confidence since LeBron [James}, [Dwyane Wade], [Carmelo Anthony]. This kid has a lot of confidence.”

Though Edwards is just 22, he has resembled a veteran in the playoffs, leading Minnesota to its first Western Conference finals appearance since 2004, when Garnett was on the roster.

Edwards is averaging 28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the postseason and has scored 30+ points five times, including three games with 40 or more. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft has been the star the Timberwolves have been searching for, and now he could lead them to the Finals for the first time in franchise history.

First, Edwards and the Wolves will have to get past Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals. The Mavs bested the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and are now looking to reach the Finals for the first time since 2011.

If Edwards can once against establish himself as the “alpha,” it will be a tough series for Dallas.