There isn’t a one-size-fits all approach when it comes to leadership.
Just ask Anthony Edwards.
Edwards took the proverbial leap last season, thrusting himself into the upper echelon of NBA superstardomGetty
The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ 23-year-old superstar took the NBA world by storm last season, when he and the Wolves broke through all the way to the Western Conference Finals, defeating the defending champion Denver Nuggets, in a Game 7 to do so.
Ultimately they fell to the Dallas Mavericks just short of the NBA Finals, but Edwards got his first taste of a deep postseason run.
And after winning a gold medal with Team USA in the Olympics over the summer, expectations are sky high for Edwards heading into the season.
He knows this is his team now, especially after Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the New York Knicks.
Edwards is the leader and face of the franchise.
With that comes the responsibility of being a leader and knowing what buttons to push at the right time.
More importantly, finding his own voice and figuring out what works and doesn’t work for him.
Edwards isn’t trying to copy and emulate legends of the past, specifically when asked about the leadership styles of two of the fiercest competitors of all-time.
In an exclusive interview with Chris Tucker for The Interview Magazine, Edwards was asked if he liked the way that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant went at their teammates.
He disagreed with the two legend’s approach.
The moment never seemed to be too big for Edwards whether it was in the NBA postseason or on the Olympic stageGetty
“I can agree to disagree, because in today’s game everybody’s different,” Edwards said.
“You can’t talk to everybody the same. You got to talk to players differently. Certain players can take it.
“I talk to some of my teammates like, “Hey, get your s— together.” But some players, you got to go talk to them on the side.
“You can’t really cuss them out in front of everybody.”
Edwards seems to be wise beyond his years.
Again, only 23 years of age, heading into his fifth season, he seems to have a grasp on the type of player and leader he wants to be.
The entire league is at his fingertips. He seems to have only just scratched the surface of what he’s capable of.
There’s a reason Netflix chose Edwards to be part of its new series, Starting 5, along with superstars LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler and Domantas Sabonis.
Edwards was one of five NBA players selected by Netflix to focus their Starting 5 series onGetty
Edwards has spoken in the past about the player that has inspired him the most – and it’s neither MJ or Kobe.
Like so many of the emerging superstars in The Association, he grew up watching and loving Kevin Durant and after jawing with his idol last season, he spent the summer on the same team as him as the United States claimed Olympics gold.
“Before I met him, I felt like he was super cool, and then when I met him, I realized we are the same,” Edwards added.
“All we want to do is hoop. We let our people control our stuff, but we just want to get on the court and hoop. That’s what I realized when I first got around him.
“Every time he walks in the gym, he grabs a ball and goes straight to the court before he puts his clothes on, and just starts shooting. And then off the court we’d just be chilling.”
Edwards is charismatic, captivating and above all, entertaining – his Timberwolves team reached the Western Conference finals last season and will have high hopes of winning again..
Just like Jordan and Bryant, he’s fearless with an unwavering killer mentality.
The only difference is, Edwards is going to be doing things his way.
