Everything suggests that the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, may have the best season in franchise history. After Ant-Man led them to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years two seasons ago and repeated that success last season, the ambitions in Minneapolis have never been higher.
Under Chris Finch, the team has been steadily gaining valuable playoff experience over the past two seasons, engaging in some great battles and proving themselves to be one of the strongest squads in the entire league. Edwards recently recalled how, even back in high school, he already had a feeling he’d be taking down the biggest stars in the postseason.
“It’s just fun, man. I remember being in high school — and my patna… Quay. I used to tell him when we were in class, like: ‘Bro, I’m telling you, I’m going to be putting belt to a** on these dudes when I get in the league… give me four or five years, I’m going to be popping boys,'” Edwards said.
Edwards has already beaten some of the biggest superstars in the playoffs
Of course, the Georgia product has already built a reputation as someone with incredible charisma and fearlessness, which he has backed up on the court. When we consider that, at just 24 years old, he has already taken down the then-reigning champions led by Nikola Jokić and swept the Phoenix Suns, featuring Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, then beat the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James and Luka Dončić, things take on a whole new perspective.
Edwards is practically the only superstar on the team. Karl-Anthony Towns was seen as one, but he left last summer. Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert, a four-time DPOY, is entering the later stages of his career, although he still contributes greatly on defense.
It’s scary to think what Edwards could do with another superstar alongside him, especially since he’s just entering his prime. But he clearly doesn’t mind the “Michael Jordan” kind of role – being the absolute dominant figure of his team.
Ant-Man won’t stop until he fulfills his dreams
Even though he’s made it to two straight conference finals, he lost both relatively easily – to the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder – where his team managed just two total wins. Still, he knows the Timberwolves now have a group that has already gained significant playoff experience, as he explained his offseason grind on his path to greatness.
“It was fun. It was a fun process. Every day, just going into the gym, knowing what you are going to work on. I think that is the most fun thing about it,” Edwards said in his interview on media day. “Greatness is boring. So it was a lot of boring days in the gym just doing one-dribble pull-ups. But I think it benefits me,” he concluded.
And while that statement may sound awkward to some, there’s no doubt the 2020 No. 1 overall pick truly believes he can achieve all his dreams, just as he was sure back in high school that it would only take him a few years to start beating his idols in the playoffs.
That’s simply the aura Edwards carries, and there’s no reason to believe he’ll stop until he makes it happen.