Rising NBA star compared to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant

After his Timberwolves took a commanding 3-0 lead against the Suns on Friday, Anthony Edwards told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt he's "trying to kill everything" in front of him and that he's not fearful of any opponents in his ongoing postseason run.

Edwards' mentality has resonated with many old heads who appreciate him for being a throwback NBA star trying to snatch an opponent's heart at all times. Charles Barkley, for one, feels Edwards is cut from a different cloth and is unlike any of his peers in the modern NBA.

"When Anthony Edwards said, 'I'm just trying to kill everything in front of me,' it reminded me so much of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant," Barkley said on Saturday's "Inside the NBA" on TNT. "Those two would kill you to win a game. There aren't too many players in today's game [with that mentality] — they all want to be buddy-buddy. But, man, Anthony Edwards is putting everybody on notice. He's like, 'I'm not going to wait for y'all to give me anything. I'm going to take it.' And I love it."

Jordan, too, sees shades of himself in Edwards, telling ESPN's Michael Wilbon and Stephen A. Smith that the Timberwolves star "is special" and has a very bright future in the NBA.

Many believe Edwards has singlehandedly snatched the Suns' spirit with his spectacular play in the first three games. The 22-year-old is averaging 28.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.3 steals thus far. 

With Kevin Durant and LeBron James on the brink of elimination, and Stephen Curry already home, the ongoing playoffs are being hailed as the dawning of a new era. The ascension of Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic means the future of the NBA is in good hands.