NBA Insider Reveals Young Star Who’s Modeling His Game After Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are both considered among the greatest players in NBA history, inspiring millions during their legendary careers.

The two shooting guards were both talented prospects coming into the league, but no one foresaw the success each of them would go on to have.

Michael Jordan was drafted in 1984 and had to pay his dues throughout the 1980s before constructing one of the league’s greatest dynasties in the 1990s. The Chicago Bulls won six titles in eight years with MJ as the franchise centerpiece.

Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant found team success at a very young age alongside Shaquille O’Neal, winning three championships in the early 2000s.

While the highly successful duo eventually split up, Bryant continued to improve and eventually collected two more rings in 2009 and 2010.

Michael and Kobe were admired not only for their achievements and playing styles, but also for their insurmountable wills. This mentality motivated both players to constantly adapt their games, especially as Father Time began to hit.

There’s one player who is trying to follow that blueprint, and he has an opportunity to be the next face of the NBA.

The one player who is modeling his game after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are all in the twilight of their careers, and while Nikola Jokichas been the league’s best player for a few years now, the title of new face of the NBA is still up for grabs.

Plus, the Serbian center, much like Tim Duncan, has never been all that interested in that mantle anyway. There is, however, one multi-time All-Star who does want to be the new face and the best player in the world.

That player is Anthony Edwards. The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ superstar has led his franchise to two straight Western Conference Finals appearances and, at 24 years old, still has his best basketball ahead of him.

According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, Edwards isn’t taking this stage of his career for granted. In fact, the young shooting guard is following the right blueprint in his climb to the top.

Anthony Edwards has a chance to be the new face of the NBA

Anthony Edwards has been gradually improving throughout his career and is coming off a season in which he averaged career highs in points and three-point efficiency. Even more encouraging is the fact that the 2020 No. 1 overall pick has been at his best in the playoffs.

Edwards is coming off a season where he led Minnesota past the L.A. Lakers and Golden State Warriors before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Similar to the 2024 Western Conference Finals, the dynamic shooting guard was outplayed by a fellow superstar. In 2024, it was Luka Doncic, and in 2025, it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Edwards ultimately understands that there is another level to his game, and that is improving both as a playmaker while also developing a go-to midrange repertoire for clutch-time scenarios.

These are precisely the kind of improvements that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant made to take the next step. Right now, Anthony is on the right path as he looks to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first-ever NBA championship.

The 2025-26 NBA season begins later this month!