If 2020 had gone according to plan, the NBA draft would’ve been held in June. Instead, it will take place roughly five months later, on Wednesday of next week, making for a long waiting period for draft prospects.
Anthony Edwards isn’t bothered by it in the slightest. If anything, the former Georgia guard welcomed the extra time to improve his game and get ready to play in the NBA.
“I’ve just been getting better,” Edwards said Wednesday. “I don’t really care about how long it’s been. I don’t really care if it was longer. I’m just getting better, day in and day out. I don’t really think about the time frame. I just think about getting better every day.”
Edwards long has been known for his ability on offense — his 19.1 points per game led the Bulldogs by more than six points. Most nights, Edwards was called upon to carry a significant portion of the load on offense. But scouts and NBA teams have had questions about his effort level and consistency, particularly on defense.
With the draft delayed, Edwards has had time to focus on improving his effort level. After a particularly eye-opening workout with the Golden State Warriors earlier in the draft process, Edwards now feels that he’s ready to give 100% effort all the time.
“They just gave me some key advice, some key points that I needed,” Edwards said. “I took those and ran. I feel like it just changed the way that I approach everything.”
What’s Edwards’ mindset now, after that workout?
“Just give it your all,” Edwards said. “Just go hard. I feel like that’s the biggest thing. It’s not about how many shots you make in a row. Just go hard. Just go as hard as you can.”
Edwards also has worked to stay focused and locked in throughout an entire workout as a result of his workout with the Warriors. That improvement in focus has led to him improving his play on defense, which Edwards said is something he looks forward to bringing to the NBA.
“A lot of people don’t think I can play defense,” Edwards said. “But I feel like I’m a really good defensive player.”
Georgia coach Tom Crean remembers Edwards fondly for his personality and his interaction with his teammates.
“I was on FaceTime with him last night,” Crean said Thursday. "We texted two nights ago; he was here a couple weeks ago. It’s more texting that anything else. What I love about him is he keeps in touch with his team so much. It’s great. It’s like he never left in respect to being a great teammate.
“Ultimately, as much as you miss him as a player — and obviously he’s a tremendous talent — I miss him as a personality. I miss his energy. There’s an aura about him. He is a charismatic person. We saw it all at the age of 18 and he’s that way at the age of 19 as he gets ready to embark on this.”
Most mock drafts have Edwards going in the top three next week. Fittingly, Edwards said he’s had contact only with the teams currently holding a top-three pick — the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Warriors and the Charlotte Hornets.
And while, after months of waiting, Edwards is excited to finally have a destination, he isn’t consumed by thoughts about where he’ll go or what the draft itself will be like.
“No matter if I walk across the stage, no matter if it’s on camera, no matter what the draft is, I’m gonna be excited,” Edwards said. “It’s gonna still be a dream come true. I treat it as if I’m walking across the stage, because my name’s still getting called and I’m going to play for a team and my last name is on the back of that jersey.
“... Whatever team’s willing to take the chance on me, I’m just ready to go in and give it my all.”
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