Is It Too Early to Start Comparing an Undrafted Wing to This Former Finals MVP?
There are a few occurrences where this phrase works: a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. For my Star Wars fans, that quote was from Emperor Palpatine. Nonetheless, that quote is useful for this undrafted forward. See, when Justin Edwards came into the 2024 draft, he went undrafted. He then signed a two-way contract with the Sixers that would give him a chance to show he belongs in the league.
It might be a stretch, but the potential is there. Somewhere inside Edwards is the ability to be a copy of Andre Iguodala. Now I’m not saying that Edwards' career could go with him having his jersey retired like the 2015 Finals MVP, but there is potential for him to carve out a solid career. I know that the two are very different, especially in how they entered the league. Iggy was a top-10 pick by the Sixers, and Edwards went undrafted. However, if you pay close attention, the similarities are there. Edwards' defensive skills, athleticism, and shot-making are raw. With a bit of polishing, he might be better than Iggy was during his tenure as a Sixer.
There are a couple of things that Edwards has done in his rookie campaign that Iggy never accomplished. Such as having at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals in a single game. On March 26th, 2025, Edwards tallied 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals in a single game. Matching Charles Barkley and Nerlens Noel as the only rookies in franchise history to do so. No disrespect to Iggy, but he did have a few close games of getting that specific stat line.
There is one game that I want to point out that should impress even the casual fans. Edwards scored 25 points, off the bench, against the OKC Thunder. On January 14th, 2025, Edwards scored a career-high 25 points against the best defensive team in the NBA. He didn’t just chuck shots, either; he was incredibly efficient. Shooting 56% from the field, 44% from three, and 75% from the free throw line. When Iggy came into the league, he was expected to help shoulder the load off of Allen Iverson’s back. While their time together was short, Iggy was consistent as he suited up for every game. Now, as for Edwards, he has shown the Sixers that he is part of the future. He can help shoulder the load when things go south, and needs to be nurtured correctly for potential stardom.
