.....And Another "NEXT Michael Jordan" bites the dust

[gengiskhan]

Never seen more overrated NEXT MJ imo. (even harold miner had more moves and more strength)

Small Midget hands literally the size of Kobe Bryant.

But tries one handed facial dunks one too many times. Even small handed kobe did not go for one handed in paint unless he was sure of it.

Panicky in clutch. dont know what to do with the ball in hand.

And world thinks he is the next 22-year-old MJ.

There will never ever be next MJ.

you can take that to the bank!

[FKAri]

To be the next MJ your opposition needs to be trash too.

[90sgoat]

He's no MJ and never was, but he'll be a great player in his own image.

As of now, he's more Isaiah Rider than MJ though.

[kawhileonard2]

To be the next MJ you have to only win gold medal, never lose a series with HCA and turn a franchise that never won into a dynasty.

[bison]

How much more of Kobe’s 4 airballs can ant dispose ? Can’t compare. Kobe had a bigger stage but ant has two more opportunies (or many more seasons) to pick it up. Hate the discourse but whatever

[gengiskhan]

How much more of Kobe’s 4 airballs can ant dispose ? Can’t compare. Kobe had a bigger stage but ant has two more opportunies (or many more seasons) to pick it up. Hate the discourse but whatever

I looked at edwards very closely. last 5 games.

Edwards should forget being MJ (big hands) and should focus more on being next kobe (a bit smaller 6'4" version of Kobe).

compared to Wade, Edwards already has better jump shot, better form and better release stroke than Wade ever had in his career.

Kobe had small hands and developed a mid-range game. Edwards has that turnaround and fadeaway shot already.

he should work in summer and become a deadly mid range shooter. those small hands are perfect for dribble and pull-up jumpers.

[3ba11]

https://media.tenor.com/QdJzv87e7-AAAAAM/bow-wow-dance.gif

[tpols]

Kobe actually almost fulfilled it.

Ant is a shrimp size wise compared to Kobe or MJ though.

Not only were they more mentally ruthless, they were more physically capable.

[Phoenix]

I looked at edwards very closely. last 5 games.

Edwards should forget being MJ (big hands) and should focus more on being next kobe (a bit smaller 6'4" version of Kobe).

compared to Wade, Edwards already has better jump shot, better form and better release stroke than Wade ever had in his career.

Kobe had small hands and developed a mid-range game. Edwards has that turnaround and fadeaway shot already.

he should work in summer and become a deadly mid range shooter. those small hands are perfect for dribble and pull-up jumpers.

Yep, I'm seeing a Wade- level ceiling, and that's not meant as an insult. It's the media pushing the next MJ narrative and that sets these guys up for unnecessary expectations.

Also yes he has smaller hands but I keep hearing that he is small compared to MJ/Kobe. Isn't he more 6'5/6'6 now?

[Patrick Chewing]

Dude is choking hard in this series.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Trying to give next Jordan status was clearly a mistake, and it's looking like they are going to lose this round. But what people should have learned long ago is that a guy like Edwards with the raw tools to be great needs some time. We will see great as well as bad games from him to years to come and it might be 6 years for us to see him at his true peak. Shouldn't have been compared to a 5-time MVP just for taking it to Denver but you don't give up on him just because he had a bad series now.

Media and maybe the viewing public are too obsessed with declaring someone the next "face of the NBA." No one is going to be an unstoppable offensive force just because you say he is. Right now no one is "that guy." The next NBA champion won't have the best player in the NBA.

[Phoenix]

Yeah the whole 'who's the next face' conversation has been dominating NBA sports media and its weird. Like, just let the next guy emerge naturally. It feels like they're desperate to move past the Lebron/Curry/KD era and crown someone, and when said person falters needless criticism is put upon them for comparisons he didn't ask for. No, he's not likely the next MJ. Probably not even the next Kobe, and Wade is like top 25 so he may not get there either. Just let the guy be whatever he winds up, and whoever comes out as the 'face' is whoever it will be. Right now it's looking like we're back in the 70s when you were getting a new champion every year, and as stated above the 'best player' and 'face' may not always be on said team.
.

[TheMan]

To be the next MJ your opposition needs to be trash too.

As trash as this take? Now the 86 Celtics are trash! Fresh take :applause:

[ArbitraryWater]

https://i.gyazo.com/97a557baffde5e7992dfc52324401f28.png



https://i.gyazo.com/2bc4043cb936c5a29c71a05ba23c22df.png

[BarberSchool]

Dude is choking hard in this series.
First round against Phoenix, with no real rim protection, he feasted going to the bucket against Nurkic, Durant, and Eubanks.

Same in second round, refs gave Minny a few games with horrific officiating, and Denver doesn’t have great rim protection at all. Ant was finishibg against Michael Porter Jr, Jokic, and Aaron Gordon.

Now he is facing a team that has TWO top ten rim protectors.
It’s not so much choking, as just being shown his own limitations.

[3ba11]

.
The sophistication and polish it takes to do this in the half court - 1 dribble - tiny Ant can't attack with this level of authority;


https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fi.makeagif.com%2Fmedia %2F5-15-2024%2FEtxI8I.gif

[FKAri]

.
The sophistication and polish it takes to do this in the half court - 1 dribble;


https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fi.makeagif.com%2Fmedia %2F5-15-2024%2FEtxI8I.gif

The ability to drive right and finish with the right when no one's at the rim(except a wide open teammate) is sophisticated?

[3ba11]

The ability to drive right and finish with the right when no one's at the rim(except a wide open teammate) is sophisticated?

The polish of the move is impressive, yes - it takes length and all-time rim attack ability to pull that of - lebron and mj territory - not "Ant' man

And teammates always grew by leaps and bounds alongside MJ and achieved career highs, such as Woolridge, Oakley, Vincent, Pippen, Grant, BJ.. He was nearly beating the Pistons in 89' before Phil got there and the only reason they lost to the Pistons in 89' was because Pippen missed Game 6 - most people don't know that.. It was his original 'migraine" that Collins was fired over, while Phil was excused for losing with a much better version of Pippen in 1990 (the more well-known 'migraine').

[gengiskhan]

they lost to the Pistons in 89' was because Pippen missed Game 6 - most people don't know that.. It was his original 'migraine" that Collins was fired over, while Phil was excused for losing with a much better version of Pippen in 1990 (the more well-known 'migraine').

People dont understand how soft Pippen was in the beginning. This guy took years to learn pro basketball toughness. 1989 Game 6, He got hit in the head first few mins by lambeer, he just quit on entire team. just sat out on bench. By this time, this was the most important Bulls game ever.

it happened again.

1990 ECF Game 7. Pippen gets migraine. I mean WTF!. on the road. Quits again. sits out the whole game. When jordan needed his allstar the most. I've never seen anything like this. every opportunity the guy quits.

You put Kobe or Lebron in Jordans shoes in 1989 and 1990. They will run to knicks and join forces with Ewing, Jackson and start winning championships from 1990 onwards. OR atleast force a Pippen trade by 1990.

Why are people surprised by 1994 ECSF Game 3 Pippen Quit again is beyond me!. I'm glad The Last Dance made a big deal out of it.

By 1998. Jordan wised up. He saw Pippen sabotaging again. 6th ring was doubtful. called him "selfish" for opting out of off-season surgery was right choice of word.

1990 Pippen Migraine may have costed Jordan's Bulls a ring. That 1990 Chicago team matched up with 1990 Blazers perfectly for thrilling 7 game finals.

Even if miraculously 1989 bulls win game 6 and 7, 1989 Lakers would've swept the 1989 bulls or 5 game series at most. a laker 3peat for sure.

[Patrick Chewing]

https://i.ibb.co/jD2d7Vm/IMG-2515.jpg

[Soundwave]

.
The sophistication and polish it takes to do this in the half court - 1 dribble - tiny Ant can't attack with this level of authority;


https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fi.makeagif.com%2Fmedia %2F5-15-2024%2FEtxI8I.gif

In fairness, pretty much no one can do that.

That's a 6 foot 6 player with a 40+ inch vertical but also has the first step of like a Iverson style 6'0 player. It's like he went from 5'10 or whatever he was in high school to 6'6 but retained all the speed he had at 5'10, which shouldn't be possible.

Jordan is an athletic/physical freak of nature as much as say a Shaq just in a different way (Iverson level explosiveness off the dribble combined with a much larger 6 foot 6 frame and then incredible leaping ability + giant hands and wingspan on top of that).