Did the basketball world prematurely anoint Anthony Edwards as a superstar?

The Timberwolves guard finished with 16 points (5-of-13 FG) and five turnovers in his team's 128-126 loss to the Thunder on Monday. It was yet another underwhelming performance by Edwards in the Western Conference Finals, following his 18-point struggle in Game 1 and his 1-of-9 shooting from three in Game 2.  

In four games, Edwards has attempted over 20 shots only once. Although the Thunder's top-ranked defense deserves credit for containing him, Edwards has yet to show the capacity of a superstar who won't be denied, regardless of what an opponent does. 

Look at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for example. Minnesota's defense made life very difficult for the MVP on Monday, with the likes of Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker pressuring him full court. Still, SGA maintained his composure by feeding his teammates early before taking over in key moments to finish with 40 points and 10 assists.

Superstars don't settle, they take over

If Edwards were truly a superstar, he wouldn't be content settling for 13 shots. The 23-year-old similarly disappeared in the early goings of last year's Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks. In the first two games, a passive Edwards took a total of 33 shots as Minnesota fell 2-0 at home. Although Edwards was more assertive for the rest of the series, it was too little, too late. 

In Monday's Game 4, the onus was on Edwards to establish the tone early, especially with the Timberwolves trying to level up the series. Instead, he attempted just two shots in the first half and got to the free-throw line just three times. If not for a scoring boost from Minnesota's bench, led by Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Timberwolves were headed for an embarrassing blowout loss.

Edwards, though, does not believe he played a bad game.

"I don't really look at it like I struggled," Edwards said, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I didn't get enough shots to say I struggled, so that might be how you guys look at it. But, yeah, I didn't struggle at all. I just made the right play."

Sorry, Ant-Man. A superstar should not attempt just two shots through the first half of Game 4 of a conference finals series. Edwards will be a superstar someday, but he has a ways to go before reaching the level of a Luka Doncic, SGA, Nikola Jokic or Kevin Durant.