Long-time NBA fans who have seen Michael Jordan play could side with Charles Barkley. For the rest of hoop fans, Anthony Edwards has recently received MJ-level hype. The league itself has generated the narrative, and the commentators deserve all the credit for it.
According to Barkley, the 23-year-old has been less aggressive in driving to the basket than he was last season. And that’s what Chucks thinks is making a difference for Edwards. Barkley also highlighted that taking the ball to the rim not only leads to higher-percentage shots but also puts pressure on opposing defenses. And if Edwards goes by his mantras, he could certainly improve.
“I actually think Anthony Edwards has regressed. He’s become an outside shooter and not as aggressive as he was last year because he’s taking too many threes, in my opinion. He’s such a terrific player,” Chucks said during his commentary [Mark- 08:23]. However, Barkley seemed unimpressed by Anthony’s overall playing style.
“If you’re guarding him, you want him shooting threes. Because if he’s going to the basket, he’s dunking on people, he’s getting you in foul trouble, and he’s getting you in the penalty sooner. When he shoots threes, even though he makes them… They end up losing that game,” Barkley added.
Although the former NBA champ could not deny the fact that Edwards’ side-by-side comparison with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was nothing but a league-wide discussion. And that too has originated from nowhere else but the commentators panel.
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Charles Barkley Hopes Anthony Edwards Will Improve Over The Time
Even if we do not directly correlate with where Barkley is coming from, Anthony Edwards’ statistics support the assertion. Edwards’ shot distribution has shown a noticeable increase in three-point attempts compared to last season.
While he is averaging 24.5 points per game, over half of his shot attempts this season come from pull-ups, many of which are from beyond the arc. Barkley pointed out that while Edwards has become a more proficient three-point shooter, this over-reliance on jump shots could be playing into the hands of opposing defenses.
Charles Barkley criticized Anthony Edwards for shooting too many threes and not attacking. Do you think Chuck knew Ant was shooting 40% from the arc? If you're shooting 40%, keep going. That's not the issue. I'd like to know the GMs who thought the T-Wolves won the Kat trade. pic.twitter.com/6iOWQdjqMW
— Heating Up (@heatingup_net) January 3, 2025
“But I personally think he’s regressed and become a jump shooter. He’s not aggressive. He’s going to have to become more of a leader. When you have a breakout, it doesn’t get easier, it gets harder,” the analyst added.
Following a breakout season, it is crucial for Edwards to adapt to the increased expectations that come with his status as a key player. Barkley suggests that the young guard needs to better leverage defensive attention to create offensive opportunities not only for himself but also for his teammates.
