He AiNT That Guy — And That’s Okay
Anthony Edwards is a rising star, but calling him a true #1 option exposes more about how we evaluate talent than about his game. This isn’t a knock on Ant — it’s a call-out of the media, the fans, and the system that crowns players too fast. Being that guy takes more than numbers. It takes a skill set built for the moment.
#BEYONDANALYTICSPRIME#BASKETBALLMINDSET#REALHOOPERSKNOWBASKETBALL CULTUREANTHONY EDWARDSANT
Prime
6/1/20254 min read
Let’s be clear from the jump: this ain’t a knock on Ant. Anthony Edwards is a dawg. Tough, fearless, explosive. He wants it. But wanting it and being that guy? Two different conversations.
The real issue?
We’re labeling players the “#1 guy” off vibes and box scores. And the media, fans, and even some league insiders are guilty of it. What we’re watching isn’t Ant being exposed, it’s the system that crowned him early showing its cracks.
Because in today’s NBA, the style makes you look like “the one.” The spacing, pace, freedom, it lets you run numbers up. That 26-5-5? Looks great on the ticker. But do those numbers hold weight when the air gets tight? When the floor shrinks? When you don’t get the switch you want?
This is about skill set, not stats.
Let’s ask the uncomfortable question:
What’s the real difference between Ant and John Starks? Or Vernon "Mad Max" Maxwell?
A little more bounce? A sleeker handle?
Both those guys were dawgs too — fierce competitors who could go nuclear or disappear depending on the night. Just like Ant. But no one handed them the keys to a franchise and called them the savior. We’ve lost that patience. We’ve lost that context.
Being that guy means you can adjust in the moment.
It means:
You manipulate defenses, not just react to them.
You play off rhythm, not just in rhythm.
You raise the floor, not just the ceiling.
You have the skill set to get a good shot off from anywhere at any time.
That’s why there’s only a handful of true #1 guys in any era. And it doesn't have to always be scoring. Jordan. Kobe. Steph. Shai. They made the game bend to their will. Not just with athleticism, but with surgical skill, elite IQ, and emotional control.
Ant’s journey ain’t over. He’s got time to grow. But right now? He’s more “elite two or three” than “undisputed one.”
And there’s no shame in that.
The shame is in how quick we are to crown dudes before they’re ready, then turn on them when the playoffs remind us what real top-tier skill looks like. This ain’t Ant’s fault.
This is on us.
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