Michael Jordan reveals the advice he gave that helped Anthony Edwards reach the next level

It’s no secret that Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards watched film on Michael Jordan this summer to work on his mid-range play and ability to handle defensive pressure. These improvements have been noticeable for Ant this season as Edwards has averaged a career-high 29.8 points.

On Tuesday night, during one of his insights into excellence segments on NBC, Jordan shared some details about his advice to Ant this offseason.

“I had a conversation with a high-ranking manager at Minnesota this summer, and he was talking about Anthony Edwards, Jordan said. I heard over the course of the year that they were double-teaming (him). He didn’t know how to handle the double-team. Well, that’s the highest respect you can ever get when a team feels like they have to double-team you. How do you figure out a way to break that double-team? Move without the ball, go to the post, get into scoring position so you can act before the doubles team. All those simple things are the kind of conversations I try to have when players are looking for that information.”

Edwards has gotten better at dealing with double teams

Edwards has taken on more of a leadership role this season, making a huge impact in these growth areas. His assist numbers may not jump off the page, but he’s making better decisions while being doubled, and his grip is tighter. Notably, Edwards’ turnover percentage of 10.4 is a career low.

Although Edwards has taken on more on-ball duties, his off-ball shooting certainly helps him beat double teams. He’s currently shooting an absurd 53.1 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. Ant also ranks in the 88th percentile for spot-up plays according to NBA.com.

Developing a mid-range game has also benefited Edwards significantly. This gives him extra space to move off the ball and helps him position himself for more scoring opportunities regardless of the pressure he receives. Edwards is shooting a career-best 40 percent against mid-range.

Overall, Edwards is looking for more comfort when double-teamed and it’s clear Jordan’s advice has helped him.

Edwards is on an incredible burner

Ant is currently on an unreal stretch, scoring over 30 points in six straight games. He is averaging 38.3 points and really seems unstoppable as a scorer. In fact, Edwards’ second-half production over a six-game span has not been matched by anyone since Kobe Bryant in 2007. While the Wolves need to win more consistently, if he keeps up this production, Edwards will find himself in MVP conversations.

No matter how much defensive pressure he gets (and that’s a lot), Edwards has found a way to beat it, which is truly remarkable. This is a marked improvement from last year, when Edwards struggled under pressure at times.

Jordan’s segment, which aired moments after Edwards led the Wolves to a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, felt poetic. Yes, the Wolves game wasn’t on NBC, but still, this was a game where Ant’s improvements were on full display.

The Pelicans pressured Edwards relentlessly, but he found a way to score in a variety of ways. He scored 44 points that night, including 34 points in the second half and in overtime. Furthermore, Edwards channeled his MJ mentality by playing the entire second half to lead his team to victory.

Ultimately, Edwards reaches another level in his age-24 season, both watching film on Jordan and his words of wisdom have certainly helped Ant.