If there is one player that closely resembles NBA legend and basketball phenomenon Michael Jordan, that player is none other than Anthony Edwards.
This season, Edwards has transformed himself into a superstar, leading the team from the front through elite performances as well as dynamic leadership in times of significance. Everything the player does is done in true Jordan flair, hence the similarities.
Anthony Edwards loves to play blackjack
NBA fans rarely have the opportunity to learn about the likes and dislikes of their favorite players, leading to a distance between them. However, Anthony Edwards is breaking that barrier by embracing transparency, openly sharing his preferences with fans.
Recently, in a personal interview with Vanity Fair, the player, now a two-time All-Star, disclosed his love for Blackjack, another interest eerily similar to Jordan’s. While Edwards refrains from drinking, he does not hesitate to visit the casino in his locality on a regular basis.
Showcasing his competitiveness in Blackjack, Edwards said, “I go in there with 10 to 20k, and if they take that, I’m gone.” Edwards is also a competitive bowling player and one of his main hobbies is bowling. Each time, he enjoys with it a different passion hoping to score 180 points.
This season, Anthony Edwards has been on a tear, securing his second consecutive All-Star selection. Leading the team to the first seed in the Western Conference, Edwards has been beyond phenomenal averaging 26.3 points per game along with along with 5.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds. His flashy dunks and aggressive approach to the sport along with his love for Blackjack, Edwards shares various similarities to Michael Jordan.
Looking back at Michael Jordan’s gambling addiction
While Edwards’ has his craze for blackjack under control, Michael Jordan once went through a gambling addiction that allegedly led to his retirement from the league, the first time. While Jordan has always denied allegations of him gambling, the player has been spotted on numerous occasions gambling in his various tours around the country with Team USA Basketball and the Chicago Bulls.
Namely in the 1992 Olympics and the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, the player was spotted gambling in Atlantic City prior to Game 2 against the New York Knicks. The basketball superstar has, on numerous occasions, expressed his love for gambling, although many speculate that his passion for the activity was beyond control.
Expressing his passion, Jordan said, “I enjoy it, it’s a hobby. If I had a problem, I’d be starving. I’d be hawking this watch, my championship rings, I would sell my house. My wife would have left me, or she’d be starving. I do not have a problem, I enjoy gambling.”
On various occasions, Jordan also emphasized that he had a sense of control over his gambling and knew where to draw the line. “I can stop gambling,” Jordan said in a 1993 interview with Connie Chung that was featured in the Last Dance documentary. “I have a competition problem, a competitive problem.”
Despite his faults, Jordan created an unfathomable legacy that transcended basketball. With young superstars like Anthony Edwards looking up to him as a role model, it is certain that Edwards will create a legacy of his own and may also become the face of the league, much like Jordan did.
