CHARLES Barkley is fed up with fans comparing a rising NBA star to the legendary Michael Jordan.
NBA icon Barkley’s comment was about Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, 22, during TNT’s Inside the NBA over the weekend.
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Edwards has been a sensation in the NBA playoffs, scoring over 40 points in three of his eight playoff games so far.
His latest performance came on Sunday in the Timberwolves’ Game 4 loss to the Denver Nuggets, scoring 44 points on 16-of-25 shooting.
Point guard Edwards’ play led fans to compare him to six-time NBA champion Jordan, and Barkley brought up the comparison after Minnesota’s loss.
“Please, America, stop this Michael Jordan thing,” Barkley said.
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“This guy had a good playoff run and I think he’s going to be a great player, he’s a really cool kid, we’re rooting for him and we wanted him to be successful.”
NBA Hall of Famer Barkley continued, saying, “He’s not close to Michael Jordan. I love Anthony Edwards, but don’t do this!
“Why can’t we just watch people do their thing and observe them? Why do we have to say he’s the next Michael Jordan?
“I’m just going to enjoy it and I’m not going to compare it. I’m watching a star rise and I don’t want to say he’s the next Michael Jordan, we don’t need to do that.”
In terms of mindset, Barkley previously said Edwards was similar to the late great Kobe Bryant and Chicago Bulls legend Jordan.
The difference in playoff statistics doesn’t lie when comparing Edwards and Jordan at 22 years old — the Minnesota star’s current age.
Edwards is currently averaging over 32 points per game this postseason, while the GOAT has averaged 43.7 points during his playoff run at age 22.
Unfortunately for Edwards, the 22-year-old’s efforts haven’t been enough recently.
The Timberwolves have lost their last two home games against the Nuggets after going up 2-0 in the second round series.
Despite an impressive performance in Game 4, Edwards took responsibility for the team’s loss.
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“I have to find out. I’m young,” Edwards said after Gamd 4.
“So I think I can look tired and still be effective.
“But I was definitely a little tired, a little sick. But I’ll be fine.”
Inside the future of the NBA?
The operation of the NBA on TNT Sports is in doubt due to the NBA’s broadcast agreements.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA ends after next season and NBC is preparing a bid to take over those rights.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it will raise questions about the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which would snatch the rights from the NBA.
The Timberwolves will head to Denver to play the Nuggets in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
