Anthony Edwards is certifiably elite, but few mention his name when discussing the top five players in the NBA. It's not that the Minnesota Timberwolves star is deliberately excluded, but instead that the top five seems to be predetermined by what's transpired in the past and what may happen in the future.
Following his stellar showing at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Edwards has ignited new debates and offered a brief reminder of how sincerely he belongs in those discussions.
Reigning MVP, Finals MVP, and NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a justifiably safe position in such conversations.