NBA Countdown | Stephen A 100% real on Anthony Edwards after he calls himself the BEST player in NBA

NBA Countdown | Stephen A 100% real on Anthony Edwards after he calls himself the BEST player in NBA

To our Los Angeles Studios and welcome to NBA Countdown alongside the one and only Kendrick Perkins Chan auma I’m Malika Andrew we have an excellent double header it tips off with the Cavaliers in Philadelphia to take on the 76ers but we need to tip things off with

Timberwolves all access all day long we have been highlighting the emergence of the Minnesota Timberwolves the number one seed in the Western Conference it’s the furthest into the season we have seen this franchise hang on to that number one spot and we’re going to get into makes him so dangerous but here’s

Just a sampling of what makes the Timberwolves so good they have the League’s best defense of course it’s anchored by the free time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy goar or how do you say it perk Rudy Gober Rudy go time right holding opponents to a league low shooting percentage and the second

Fewest paint points per game you can probably attribute that directly to goar and then on the offensive end they have the third best three-point field goal percentage in the league take a listen to Anthony Edwards who I caught up with ahead of te today Stephen A Smith Kevin Garnett

Kendrick Perkins they have all compared you to the next coming of Michael Jordan what do you say to that I mean how would I look denying it but I don’t want to be compared to somebody of such caliber I mean I haven’t did anything on his level yet but I love it

I love that they got faith in me for sure I mean they not wrong the man said they not wrong and look who is here alongside us now Stephen A Smith who has been in Minneapolis all day long and you’ve spent time there so obviously now you

Are the mayor of the city I’m guessing that Sur planted Miami as one of your favorite cities in the NBA right I mean you said never you said in January Stephen A that you wanted to go and you wanted to see Anthony Edwards in person and now you’re getting that opportunity

Tonight but for all the folks who are at home watching thinking wait you really compared this young man to Michael Jordan why is it that you see that for first of all I never compared him to Michael Jordan cuz there’s only one MJ as I’ve educated big perk about

When he tries to bring up somebody else in a goat conversation what I said however is that when you look at his brand of basketball his style the athleticism some of the moves that he puts forth his explosiveness etc etc it’s jordanes he’s not there of course

Not yet he’s not where Kobe is or was God Rest of Soul not yet but when you look at the potential of Anthony Edwards his shooting of ability his ability to get to the basket his his athleticism his explosiveness and most importantly that want it Factor when you stepping on

The court and wanting to put on a show that is Anthony Edwards and I’m telling you right now when I see him I love what I’m seeing to be so young to have that athletic big NBA body to be able to finish at the basket and to do the

Things he’s capable of doing that’s why I’m here I want to see this brother in action up close in person because I think he’s I think he has the potential to be that spectacular for years to come but that’s why I compared him to the 89 version of Michael Joy right because

He’s still a raw talent with so much potential and his cealing is unbelievable when you think of Anthony Edward yes to all the things Stephen A alluded to he has the talent he has the athleticism he has the the want Factor right but he also has the leadership

Skills and at 22 years old it is so refreshing to have a guy that takes accountability not only with himself but hold his team accountable but also put the key in their back right it’s so like I saw an interview the other day with car Anthony towns after the game and

They were interviewing him and Anthony Edwards went behind the interview and said I don’t know why they’re double teaming me they need to be double teaming you you’re the best offensive player on the team because he knows right that if they get the best version of car Anthony towns this team is going

To go to Heights that they probably don’t even believe that they could go to but you’ve said that not necessarily in the postseason you see them maybe being a team that that people don’t fear yet Stephen A where do you think that this Timberwolves team can go with Anthony Edwards keying that

Engine I think they’re skilled and gifted enough to go to the Conference Finals I’m not saying that’s going to happen but I definitely think you have to look at them you look at the reigning defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets and you ask who can be the biggest impediment the biggest form of

Resistance to them we’ve talked about the clippers but we see that age is factored into the equation along with the lack of size even though I still believe in them we looked at the Oklahoma City Thunder they’re inexperienced and they’re thin you look at the Minnesota Timberwolves what do

You see you see a stud in Anthony Edwards you see a a three-time defensive player of the year in Rudy Gober you see a guy in Carl Anthony towns that has the potential to drop 50 or 60 you’ve got s in your front line you’ve got star power

In your back court you’ve got steady reliable leadership in Mike Conley Jr and you have some depth with Reed and others and so I look at it from that perspective and I’m saying to myself this is a team that built itself to be able to compete with who who other than

A reigning defending NBA champions that took them out in the playoffs last year that’s what I’m looking at that’s what I’m seeing and I don’t think anybody can sniff at that to be quite honest with you not to mention the general manager the former general manager that put

Together the Denver Nuggets is now the general manager there in Minnesota CH in your opinion what makes this Timberwolves team Dynamic yeah let me break it down the Minnesota Timberwolves they are a three-headed monster they have three stars that are the best at what they do and it starts with Anthony

Edwards up at the top an is having a career best year he has increased his points per game assists per game field goal percentage nearly every category he is the heart and soul of this team and his play has elevated the entire Squad now from offense to defense Rudy goar

Stars down low he’s anchoring the NBA’s best defense he’s defended the most shots at The Rim over over the last 10 seasons allowing the fourth lowest percentage and the XA factor is Carl Anthony towns he’s shooting really allows them to play two bigs he has made the fourth most threes for a

Seven-footer in NBA history he has seven seasons making at least 100 threes the trifecta has the Timberwolves at number one in the west I’m glad you you pointed at Rudy gber because a lot of people may not like this but this is a real statement and a real take that I’m about

To give you this young this man can arguably go down as the best defensive player to ever play the game of basketball he’s on the verge of winning his fourth Defensive Player of the Year matter of fact if it ended today he has my vote he gets a lot of

Criticism from the world his peers but this man shows up year-to-year basis night toight basis and does his job at an elite high level you Shing your head but the numbers are there the accolades are there well let me say let me answer you let me answer you I get where you’re

Coming from perk the only reason I would challenge you on that is because when I think about guys like Dennis Robin and others I think about the ability to go out to the perimeter and defend that’s been an impediment to Rudy goar’s success which affected Utah negatively which affected Minnesota negatively last

Year now coming to the basket when you think of some of the Premier shot blockers and rim protectors and rebounders throughout history certainly he’s right there there’s no doubt about that he’s a three-time defensive player of the year for a reason but I can’t IGN nor the inability to step out away from

The basket and how he can be exploited in that manner and that’s why I would disagree with you yeah but but they say we living in different times right the pick and roll was guarded a lot differently than what it was back when Dennis robman was playing now big man

Are required to switch pick and rolls and slide those puppies we’re going to get into this yep go ahead let me interject here for a second Malika Minnesota y I listen we don’t show up here every day okay all right they they want to hear what we got to say from

Minnesota wearing this damn music I can barely hear the question all right let’s pipe it down just a touch go ahead M we’re going to we’re going to we’re going to let them do that while we take a little break here before we get to the Minnesota timber woles Minnesota and 31

De weather come on before we get to the Timberwolves and the Bucks we have the Cavaliers and the 76ers Timberwolves record for scoring averages it had been held Remember by Kevin Love but where does he fit in terms of the best player in the league conversation who’s the best player in

The NBA I’m me if it’s you then who’s number two I’m going go with cat I mean he said he’s the best and then he’s going with Carl Anthony Town Stephen A as the second best player in the league what’s your reaction to that well we know he’s lying let’s get

That out of the way we know he’s lying said all of that Carl Anthony towns well listen Carl Anthony towns is no scrub the brother can ball he’s an Allstar we get all of that Anthony Edwards is an absolute stud he is something special and I’m looking at him and Shay Gil just

Alexander and I’m imagining a future where they were chirping at one another earlier this season and then they encounter one another in the post Seasons not just the regular season you talk about the NBA moving in a forward Direction and the Baton being passed years from now to guys maybe not that

Long from now it’s about Anthony Edwards and Shay gilis Alexander in Oklahoma City Anthony Edwards when you look at him I met every syllable I uttered Vince Carter Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan he’s not there yet but he’s coming he is special I love watching him play and

That’s why I’m in I left La in 70° weather to come here in 31 degree weather that’s why I’m here cuz I want to see this brother play yeah to see it in person I want to see it in person and we’re going to couple of hours see we’re

Going to be watching out for you there and maybe I don’t know about second best player in the league or not but I do know it’s time now for Big Man moment brought to you by ESPN bet the official sports book of ESPN and you know we had

To bring in our resident big man K Kendrick Perkins for this we are going to see four different very different big men in this match up tonight between the Bucks and the Timberwolves but you have your eye on one that you wanted to highight Le first of all nothing keeps

Me more full this stomach than seeing this four bigs across the board but I’m not about to talk about Lopez Giannis or Rudy Gober I’m going talk about this guy right here Carl Anthony towns right he might not be the best the second best player in the league but damn it he’s

One of the most skilled bigs we have ever seen when you talk about his ability to stretch the floor we haven’t seen this really since Dirk nowinsky he’s shooting 44% from the three that’s why that’s what makes him so Dynamic and then to top it off look at the stroke

Right look at him being his ability but right here this is what I love how he’s able to make love to the paint that postor the footwork get to the basket float game in the middle jump hook over both shoulders the physicality the up and unders the what Danny Ang may call

It sometime the slippery eels the movement I love it and you also got to love this this face oh hey you oh hey World we’re adding a fifth big man to our lineup with Kendrick Perkins ESPN bet is the official sports book of ESPN new yeares get how much perk $100 in

Bonus bets for making any Sportsbook bet so you can check out perks big man parlay exclusively in the ESPN bed app if you want to ride with perk and we had a purpose you know it wasn’t just about being good he was more involed we try to

Win a championship good good chasing in you’re supposed to put them all back on top oh for real like building it back up oh you pull the T that means I got to do 10 push-ups she knocked it down y’all one it’s h oh Lord

I had to get outside of my comfort zone every year and now I’m in the point when like I’m comfortable like you say it and though I’m comfortable regarding anyone game day we got another one start of the second half of the season season I get up I’ll make like tea they’ll have

Cereal all over the place right now I say good morning we talk I head out about 15 minutes as our all access day with the Minnesota Timberwolves continues go ahead Stephen A Smith Malika yes sir Malika I thought you know what we gonna stop giving Molly props for some

Push-ups I saw you get down there and do those push-ups girl I mean you got Molly beat I’m just saying I’m just saying my my trainer Courtney is going to be so so glad to hear that I’ve been in the I’ve been in the gym working on it as we say

Hello to someone else who I know has been in the gym our senior Insider Adrien w narowski w you reported earlier this week that Mike connley Jr has agreed to an extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves I think he goes a little bit under the radar sometimes why

Is he so important to this team it does two years $21 million for Mike Conley Jr he’ll be 38 years old in the second year of that deal Tim Connelly when he arrived in Minnesota made that massive trade with Utah for Rudy gobear and then a few months later he realized to make

The gobear uh partnership work in that front court with Carl Anthony towns with Anthony Edwards he needed a point guard who knew how to play with Rudy gobear traded for Mike Conley Jr with the Jazz uh this was a player who uh obviously they wanted him to play with gobe but

They wanted his leadership with this young team and Mike connley at the time of that trade he was hoping it might be the Lakers it might be the Clippers he was not enthusiastic about going to Minnesota and just a year later he was eager to sign that extension uh not just

On the court but off the court with his family in that Community he’s loved being there and Mike connley is a player who has really tied this group together this is a team that turns the ball over a lot Mike connley is a low turnover point guard and and to be approaching

His 37th birthday day and still playing at such a high level and leading this group uh Connelly has been a huge part of this emergence as an elite team now in Minnesota not to mention that experience in his 17th year in the NBA is so important because we’re largely

Perk looking looking at a little bit of a young group here that’s looking to make noise in the postseason and I know despite their success in the regular season you are not completely sold I’d like to hear why and see if Stephen A agrees with you well well I’m not sold

As on them as being one of the been the favorite in the conference and I don’t think no one is I mean even Vegas for the simple fact that they need to show us when they actually get to the postseason right I get it and they earn

My respect because I watched them beat the Celtics hand them handed them their first loss I watched them beat the Nuggets they have beaten every top team in the NBA but again in order to get that nod uh you know where we put them above the Denver Nuggets as the favorite

Or the Los Angeles Clippers you have to do it in the postseason I need to see them win the series let’s go he sitting Courtside tonight I was I want to get I want to get Stephen A on yours as well Chen well listen I want to say this just

Real quickly Mike connley is a consumate leader he’s a high quality professional he’s steady he’s reliable he’s trustworthy averaging 10 and six on the season a 6 to1 assist to turnover ratio shooting 44% from three-point range I’m not saying that there aren’t point guards in the league that are better

Overall but he’s earned the money that he’s gotten they got him at a bargain Tim Colley once again has show has proven to be the elite executive that he is in making sure you keep this guy in total because he’s far more valuable than those numbers suggest yeah and

They’ve also earned the position of first in the west because if you think about what they had last year they had a reality check they lost in the first round to defending champs and they’ve done everything ever since then to show that this year they’re focused on the

Postseason this is a team whose window while the the core is Young they have a massive payroll next season they’re going to be a second apron team which means they’re going to be very limited in the kind of Trades they can make how they can uh uh reshape that roster uh

They are they are have they are going for it now but if this is a team that comes up short in the postseason doesn’t advance I think you look at them in the offseason to say are we keeping this group exactly the same they’re going to

Be expensive yeah this is a team that this has proves why this year is so important when you have a window you have to you have to capitalize on it the Philadelphia 76ers know a little something about that it’s party Towners first enemy double kill an enemy has been defeated Su hey hey

Hey an ally has been defeated defeated an enemy enemy double kill enemy ultimate you have been defeated an ally has been defeated your tower has been destroyed please an enemy has been defeated fall enemy Onslaught now Su your team has destroyed a tower been defeated enemy double kill enemy

Blood get up to speed our base is under attack please many fingers hey you have defeated an enemy enemy dominated enemy double kill was expected I will never return to don’t spee spee First Blood an enemy has been defeated double kill for so so so my for an enemy stepping through fore

For get over here Unstoppable he the ultimate your team has destroyed a tower out of my way shall pass through me stepping Through Blood double kill you my FL shut down

NBA Countdown | Stephen A. 100% real about Anthony Edwards after he calls himself the BEST player in the NBA