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Anthony Edwards is Among Jeremiah Fears' Most Anticipated NBA Opponents
Anthony Edwards is Among Jeremiah Fears' Most Anticipated NBA Opponents originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 NBA Draft will bring a new class of rookies to the league, eager to prove themselves amongst the pros. Several years ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves landed the first overall pick in the draft, bringing Anthony Edwards to the team.
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That pick has paid off rather well for the team, as Edwards is among the league's best, and Minnesota has been on the cusp of the NBA Finals in the past two seasons. Based on many projections, Edwards will only continue to get better and better in his career.
He's now familiarized himself with the league and talented opponents, including fellow All-Stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Most of this year's incoming rookies already have specific players in mind they're most looking forward to playing against.
Ahead of Wednesday night's opening round, many of the draft prospects appeared in the NBA's live YouTube video, On The Clock with the 2025 Draft Class. Hosts Ryan Hammer and Krysten Peek asked them each questions, including who their games compare to and who they can't wait to battle on the court.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5).David Gonzales-Imagn Images
For many, the same superstar's name kept popping up as the opponent they couldn't wait to play: LeBron James. More than a few of the 2025 NBA Draft prospects indicated he's the greatest of all-time, and it's unclear how much longer he'll be in the league.
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A few of the other popular answers included Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. However, Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears immediately said Anthony Edwards and Steph Curry as his choices.
'Just because [of] Ant-Man's mentality. Fierce competitor, not scared of nobody, and he gonna come at you, so you wanna play against somebody like that every single night and it's gonna help you bring your A-game as well,' Fears said on why he chose Edwards.
The 6-foot-4 Sooners star averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as a freshman. Fears helped lead his squad to the NCAA Tournament, where he tallied 20 points, five boards, and four assists in a loss to the UConn Huskies.
He finds out on Wednesday night, which team he'll suit up for next season. Most mock drafts have him going in the top 10, with some projecting him at No. 7 to the New Orleans Pelicans or No. 8 to the Brooklyn Nets.
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ESPN praised Fears ahead of the NBA Draft, due to his 'combination of size, speed, pace, shotmaking, and shot creation,' suggesting he has 'significant long-term upside" for a team.
As of this writing, he's projected to go No. 5 in ESPN's mock draft to the Utah Jazz. While they're not nearly a contender, yet, it would give Fears multiple opportunities each season to face the Minnesota Timberwolves and Edwards.
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Related: NBA Mock Draft Predicts Timberwolves Will Pick UConn's Liam McNeeley
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
