With the Minnesota Timberwolves missing two key players and looking for a boost in the middle of the season, Anthony Edwards showed he could step up to the level of an NBA superstar.
In two games over two days, he scored 90 points and helped the team secure two wins.
“I think he knows what we need from him now,” said head coach Chris Finch, praising Edwards for his consistent aggression in driving to the basket during the 127-114 win over Houston on Thursday.
“He’s making quick decisions. When he has a chance to race, he races. When he has a chance to shoot, he shoots. When he comes and catches the ball behind the play, he’s playing off the catch more, and that’s really resulting in a lot of trips to the free-throw line,” Finch added. “That’s exactly the way we need him to play. He’s been special these last couple of games, absolutely special.”
Edwards reached two important milestones on Thursday. He scored his 14th career 40-point game, surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns for the most in Timberwolves history, and at age 23, he became the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 three-pointers.
In his two games against Chicago and Houston, he shot 24 for 53 from the field, 11 for 26 from three-point range, and 31 for 33 from the free-throw line.
“It feels incredible, man, because of all the criticism I received coming into the league about my jumper,” Edwards said, noting that he’s shooting a career-best 42.1% from 3-point range. “Now I love to see what the critics say about my jumper.”
For the Timberwolves to reach their full potential, they need Edwards to not only perform well offensively but also become a leader for the team. This week, he’s shown his leadership, most notably by standing up to Dillon Brooks of the Rockets in a heated game without losing his cool.
“Once me and Dillon Brooks got into it, the fatigue went out the way. At that point, you can’t use that excuse because somebody tries you, you try them back,” Edwards said. “At that point, it’s time to hoop. I couldn’t use fatigue as a bailout in that moment. I had to show up.”
The trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo gave Edwards a bigger leadership role. Towns had been the glue in the locker room, always keeping the mood light and spirits high, but now Edwards clearly has the loudest voice, both literally and symbolically.
“As a team, we have a view of ourselves as being held to a higher standard and that we should be playing at a higher level and we just haven’t been,” said point guard Mike Conley. “He’s done a really good job of not letting those frustrations dictate the way he comes and approaches every game.”
After their strong 2023-24 season, which ended in the Western Conference finals, the Timberwolves have had a much tougher ride in 2024-25. They’ve had to adjust to a new lineup, injuries to Randle and DiVincenzo, and the tougher competition they now face due to their increased profile in the league.
Edwards himself has faced challenges, like dealing with double-teams and foul calls from referees, which he has loudly criticized, leading to fines totaling $285,000 this season.
As a team, the Timberwolves have struggled with slow starts, especially against teams that are missing key players or ranked low. This issue of focus and maturity begins with Edwards. Finch has not hesitated to call out the team’s uneven efforts, but Edwards has had little to criticize over the last two games.
Not only did Edwards perform well during a difficult back-to-back set of games, but he also helped give the team momentum at a crucial time. While many Western Conference teams upgraded their lineups before the trade deadline, the Timberwolves decided to stand pat, trusting that a healthy Randle and DiVincenzo will provide a big boost after the All-Star break.
The Timberwolves, with a 21-14 record against the West, are facing a tough stretch of games. After hosting Portland on Saturday, their next seven games include three against the top-ranked Oklahoma City team, one against the East-leading Cleveland team, and three more against teams in the top five of either conference.
“The plan is always to deliver, but if it don’t go my way, then I’ll be OK. I don’t really stress about it,” Edwards said. “However it goes, it goes. I know I put the work in.”
