Lots of folks out there have the Rookie of the Year race locked up. LaMelo Ball seems like he’ll be far and away the winner of the award this year and, deservedly so! He looks incredibly good so far.
But not so fast! Things aren’t quite wrapped up just yet. Anthony Edwards is quietly building a case for himself in Minnesota.
He’s moved into the starting lineup for the Timberwolves and has continued to find his stride. His career-high 42-point performance against the Phoenix Suns Thursday night was the absolute peak of his season so far.
He got bucket after bucket, made key passes in the clutch and played an excellent two-man game with Karl-Anthony Towns.
ANTHONY EDWARDS HAD A NIGHT 🔥
He dropped a career-high 42 PTS, making him the third youngest player to score 40+ in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/JpWNV0StQm
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 19, 2021
Edwards was spectacular. This performance put him in some pretty good company.
First, he’s now the third-youngest player to ever score 40 points in a game. The two ahead of him? LeBron James and Kevin Durant, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Anthony Edwards has joined some pretty exclusive company tonight (via @ESPNStatsInfo). pic.twitter.com/pKYPMPjeUL
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 19, 2021
He’s also scored 105 points in his last three games total. And he’s the first teenager to ever score at least 100 points in a 3 game span.
Anthony Edwards has now scored 105 points in his last three games.
He's the 1st teenager in NBA history with 100 points in a 3-game span 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Yknx20kCEe
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 19, 2021
And with Towns scoring 40 points along with him, they’re now one of five duos to score 40 in the same game since 2010. And Edwards is a rookie.
Teammates with 40 points in the same game since 2010:
— Durant & Westbrook (3x)
— KAT & Wiggins
— Westbrook & PG
— Kawhi & PG
— KAT & Anthony Edwards tonight pic.twitter.com/3516f4IYDN— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 19, 2021
So, uh, yeah. That Rookie of the Year race isn’t quite over just yet. There’s plenty of season left to go.
