Anthony Edwards had Minnesota Timberwolves fans worried about five seconds into their game against the Indiana Pacers when he appeared injured while dribbling.
He had them worried again in the last second of that game after hitting his head in the backboard while blocking Benedict Mathurin to save their two-point lead and seal the victory.
All is good, though, based on Anthony Edwards' stats versus the Pacers. He finished the game with 44 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
He was sensational in the last 1:16 remaining, scoring seven points to separate the Wolves and the Pacers when the game was tied at 105.
The game should strengthen his case as the league's future, but for now, his game-saving block will mostly be the talk of the NBA town.
Edwards hit his head on the backboard and fell awkwardly in the process.
ANTHONY EDWARDS IS UNREAL.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 8, 2024
pic.twitter.com/S7ulYr6Dgt https://t.co/D0KtWS0U5e
He said it was the first time he had jumped that high.
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The sensational block was a sight to behold. It happened in the NBA before and in other leagues, but Edwards' play is one-of-one because of its significance.
Other incidences, however, are borderline Shaqtin-A-Fool level.
Other instances a basketball player hit his head on the board in a game:
1. Michael Jordan
The unofficial NBA GOAT, a.k.a. Ant-man's "dad," had a strikingly similar play. The only difference is that MJ's play was not during the dying seconds.
Jordan completed a chase-down block when he was a star player at UNC against Duke. The block, however, was ruled as goal-tending.
Decades after the play, it became one of the most iconic MJ plays outside of his NBA career.
2. Shaedon Sharpe
Portland Trail Blazers forward Shaedon Sharpe is one of those heavily requested to participate in the Slam Dunk competition.
Fans witnessed how high he could jump in college, and NBA viewers got a glimpse of it when he hit his head on the corner of the backboard while trying to do an alley-oop during a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
The play was not completed, but that was enough for fans to appreciate his high-jumping ability.
3. Blaise Meredith in a Division III game
This play would have been national news if only there was a wider coverage.
North Central's Blaise Meredith was hell-bent on stopping a fast break that he ran so fast he did not know he was already under the basket when he jumped.
He hit his head on the backboard and fell hard on the hardwood.
Good thing he was okay after the play. He even went back to playing after a short stoppage.
4. Ja Morant
If there is one player who can challenge Edwards in an aerial battle, it would be Ja Morant, a daredevil like Edwards.
He, too, got an out-of-this-world block when he blocked Avery Bradley's soft layup during their game in January 2022.
The Memphis Grizzlies star hit his head on the backboard, although it was not as painful or dangerous as the plays above.
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