During the debut episode of his Cousins podcast, former NBA star Tracy McGrady sparked interest by weighing in on the ongoing debate between Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The conversation comes as both guards continue to assert themselves as some of the NBA’s best, with the 2025-26 season highlighting their rising impact.
McGrady shared his perspective alongside co-host Vince Carter, focusing on Edwards’ development and how close he believes Edwards has come to matching Gilgeous-Alexander’s level, despite the latter’s recent achievements including a scoring title, MVP, and Finals MVP. Oklahoma City’s league-best 38-10 record further bolsters Gilgeous-Alexander’s reputation, but McGrady emphasized the narrowing gap between the two players.
Analyzing Edwards’ Defensive Skills and Leadership
McGrady pointed to Edwards’ defensive capabilities, competitive spirit, and leadership as key reasons for placing him alongside, if not above, Gilgeous-Alexander in terms of impact. Highlighting Edwards as a lockdown defender on the ball, McGrady emphasized his relentless competitiveness and unique approach to the game.
I think Ant-Man is right there with Shai, if not better. Defensively, I mean, he’s a on-the-ball lockdown defender. He’s making you work. I think his competitive drive, his spirit, is different than everybody else’s. I think his approach is different. I think he has less talent, uh, depth, I should say, on his roster than someone like Shai. So, it’s going to look different. But for Ant-Man to have taken his team and he’s not doing by himself, but for him to have two Western Conference Finals on his resume at this age, and what he’s right there with Shai,
McGrady said during the podcast.
McGrady acknowledged the differences in team composition surrounding Edwards and Gilgeous-Alexander, explaining that Edwards’ accomplishments—such as leading Minnesota deeply into the postseason at a relatively young age—reflect his capacity to elevate his team despite having less talent around him.
Vince Carter Highlights Edwards’ Evolving Play Style
Following McGrady, co-host Vince Carter discussed noticeable improvements in Edwards’ game during the current season. While Edwards is posting career highs in scoring, Carter underscored a transformation in his playing style—from focusing on sheer offensive output to prioritizing winning basketball through smarter playmaking and leadership.
Carter elaborated on Edwards’ increased ability to read defenses early in games and involve teammates, allowing him to control the pace and dominate later in matchups.
His ability now to learn how to manipulate the situation in defenses, meaning early in games, getting guys involved more to make the game easier for him in the second half, for him to be as dominant,
Carter explained, stressing that volume scoring alone does not guarantee success.
Carter noted that teammates such as Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Mike Conley have become more integral to Minnesota’s offensive flow, a trait that parallels Gilgeous-Alexander’s style in Oklahoma City, where he balances scoring with facilitating teammates.
Reframing the Debate Among Top NBA Guards
McGrady’s commentary does not diminish Gilgeous-Alexander’s elite status but rather reframes the narrative by positioning Anthony Edwards as a serious contender among the league’s best guards. As Edwards continues to develop a multifaceted game and take on greater leadership roles, the conversation about who leads the NBA’s guard hierarchy becomes more complex and dynamic.
With Minnesota’s young star showing growth on both ends of the court and competing closely with Gilgeous-Alexander, fans and analysts alike can expect this debate to intensify as the season progresses and both players vie for further individual and team success.
