In the latest episode of The Hoops Collective podcast, Brian Windhorst shared some intriguing insights about Anthony Edwards with Tim MacMahon and Tim Bontemps. Windhorst didn't hold back, calling Edwards "the most underrated star in basketball."
Despite his jersey ranking seventh in sales, Windhorst mentioned ESPN's internal metrics that suggest Edwards isn't followed as much as other stars. Windhorst believes Edwards should be a central figure in prime time games, ranking among the top three or four players.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have indeed seen more national TV exposure recently, thanks largely to Edwards, also known as Ant-Man. Windhorst's view is not commonly echoed outside of the Timberwolves' fan circles.
In ESPN's recent NBA MVP straw poll, Edwards landed 11th among 11 players who received votes. Out of 100 voters, Edwards appeared on just four ballots, with one third-place and three fifth-place votes.
This poll was conducted before Edwards' impressive 40-point performance, but even before that, he was posting career-best numbers in scoring and shooting percentages. An 11th-place finish marks a decline from his previous seventh and tied-for-seventh finishes.
This lower ranking in the straw poll adds weight to the argument that Edwards is underrated. Windhorst's comments about ESPN's metrics, while not publicly detailed, support this notion. Notably, Edwards' jersey sales are actually sixth, trailing only behind stars like Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, Victor Wembanyama, and LeBron James.
While some media voices have different takes, especially during the All-Star Weekend's "face of the league" discussions, Edwards himself has expressed disinterest in that title, preferring Victor Wembanyama to take it. Yet, figures like Stephen A. Smith argue that Edwards is the rightful heir.
At just 24 years old, Edwards is undeniably a must-watch player every time he hits the court. Whether he's the most underrated star is up for debate, but his status as one of the game's elite talents is not.