After Anthony Edwards missed a crucial 3-point shot at the buzzer in Game 5, which sealed a series win for Denver, he dashed off the court in frustration.
Since then, Edwards and the Timberwolves have been working hard to prove they’re not just a team that makes it to the playoffs once and then exits. Their big test has come.
They’ll be back at the same arena where their season ended last year, this time in the second round, facing a Nuggets team eager to defend their title. Game 1 is on Saturday.
If the Timberwolves manage to beat the Nuggets, it’ll likely be thanks to Edwards’ outstanding play. His 31-point performance in the second half last week, which helped secure a sweep against Phoenix, was just one example of his brilliance, not only as a scorer but also as a passer, defender, and leader.
“After halftime, it’s about winning,” Edwards remarked after scoring his second career 40-point game in the playoffs, a feat only achieved four times in franchise history. “I need to take my shots and have confidence in myself.”
Edwards’ rise to prominence has been swift, as seen during commercial breaks in the playoffs where the 22-year-old features in ads for Bose and Sprite back-to-back.
The league announced on Tuesday that Edwards had garnered over 100 million video views on its social and digital platforms, ranking behind only LeBron James (130 million). He also gained the most Instagram followers of any player since the postseason started. Edwards will also be a key player for Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer.
But the Timberwolves aren’t concerned about Edwards getting distracted by his rising fame. “You wouldn’t call him an ‘old soul,'” said assistant coach Micah Nori, “but he’s experienced a lot in his life. He’s been in many situations. He’s matured quickly.”
Few star players can strike the right balance between confidence and humility like Edwards does. He excels in pressure situations, yet always gives credit to his teammates or coaches when his success is mentioned.
“Everyone here has played a role in his growth and development,” said point guard Mike Conley. “During film sessions, we’re always talking to each other.
“If he’s getting upset about something the coach said, I’ll tap him on the shoulder and say, ‘Relax. You need to hear this. It’s important. He’s being honest, and you need to work on it.’ And he’ll say, ‘Okay.’ He’s open to feedback.”
It took some time for Edwards to reach this point.
Before the 2022-23 season began, he was fined $40,000 by the league for making disparaging and homophobic comments on social media.
After a frustrating loss in Denver last year, he stormed off the court and threw a chair in anger. This led to misdemeanor assault charges by two onlookers, but those were later dropped. The NBA also fined him $50,000.
At the team’s headquarters, he didn’t immediately click with coach Chris Finch when Finch joined midway through his rookie season.
The two-time All-Star admitted their relationship had its ups and downs initially. Finch often told him what not to do with the ball, which Edwards found frustrating. But eventually, they found common ground.
“When you tell me something works and I try it and it works, I can’t argue with you,” Edwards explained. “So basically, he told me, ‘These are the spots. This is what we need you to do to win.’ Since then, probably at the end of my second year, going into the playoffs, we gained each other’s trust. We’ve been on the same page since then.”
Now, Edwards is more focused on making the right decisions, especially when facing double-teams.
“He’s very focused on the game of basketball,” said teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. “We’re all here to keep him focused and accountable. But for him, he’s already ahead.”
