Kerr wasn't sold on Edwards during pre-draft process: 'Just so raw'

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admits he had his doubts about Anthony Edwards prior to the 2020 NBA Draft.

In an interview with Logan Murdock of The Ringer, Kerr recalled meeting Edwards for the first time and questioning whether the former Georgia guard could succeed at the NBA level.

"The first impression was it was hard to tell whether he was going to be good or not because he was just so raw," Kerr said. "He was so young, and he was full of energy, which we loved, but we just worried about: Was he going to be a worker? Because he didn't know anything."

Edwards' former trainer and current business manager, Justin Holland, said Kerr wasn't any more convinced after Edwards' pre-draft workout with the Warriors.

"(Kerr) was like, 'Imagine everybody walking through the door has $50 million,'" Holland recalled. "'Because the way you're working out, you're not the type of guy to give $50 million to.'"

Edwards was ultimately drafted first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Warriors selected James Wiseman at No. 2.

Kerr has since had the opportunity to coach Edwards on Team USA, and his opinion of the Timberwolves star has changed a lot since their first encounter.

"There's definitely a sense that he's one of the guys waiting to take over the league once LeBron (James) and Steph (Curry) and Kevin (Durant) kind of move on," Kerr said. "I think there's definitely an awareness that he's part of that next group, but he's ready for that to happen now."