Anthony Edwards is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA, but he says he might leave the league soon. In his last interview, Ant said that he might consider a different sport once he wins a championship ring. Will that happen?
Anthony Edwards Wants to Play in the NFL After He Wins an NBA Title
Edwards recently did a sit-down with fellow Minnesota superstar, Justin Jefferson, who plays for the Vikings. ESPN released an excerpt from the interview, and in the clip, Edwards is going back and forth about whether NBA players are better athletes than NFL players.
In the end, he makes an audacious claim about his future plans. Edwards said,
“Football players can’t go play basketball. No way. I told my buddies, I said, ‘If I win a ring in the next 3-4 years, I’m going to play football”.
“If I win a ring in the next 3-4 years, I’m going to play football.”
Anthony Edwards says he could play in the NFL if he wins a ring in the next few years 👀
The full ESPN Cover Story launches Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/dMHVzAbxeA
— ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2024
To that, Jefferson replied, “No, you’re not”. Whether he meant winning a championship or playing in the NFL, we will have to wait and see. What do you, think, what are the chances of Anthony Edwards’ NBA title happening?
Will He Do It?
It is impossible to imagine a player of his stature switching sports. It has never been done before, at least not with basketball and football being the two sports. While there are crossovers between football and basketball players within lower levels, it has never been done before at the pro level. Two examples we can mention are NFL legends like Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez. They both played college basketball before becoming football players. But they didn’t play in the NBA.
Another example is the other way around. Devin Funchess was a receiver for the Carolina Panthers drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft. He dropped everything to play basketball in 2022 and made his overseas debut in 2023. The biggest star to switch sports remains Michael Jordan. In 1993, he retired after winning his third NBA championship and attempted to play minor league baseball for a year. MJ returned to basketball in 1995.
Can Minnesota Win the Title?
If we are talking about odds specifically, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the third-best odds in the Western Conference, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets. This summer, they traded Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo and they drafted Rob Dillingham. So, far, they have done their part at putting a good roster on the floor. Looking at DraftKings betting odds, they are at +1000 to win the championship title, +500 to win their conference, and +285 to win their division.
How Good Are the New Timberwolves?
The Timberwolves are coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance and are clear title contenders this season. Minnesota had the league’s top-ranked defense last year which should remain elite this season. They pair this with superstar offensive production from Edwards and a deep bench with a plethora of shot-creators. While the Timberwolves are contenders, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks give them tough competition in the West. In any case, Anthony Edwards is only 23 years old. Most players reach their prime at 26 years. Few stars have won a title before 26. LeBron James was 27 when he won his first title, Michael Jordan was 28, Kevin Durant was 28, and Stephen Curry was 27.
