Anthony Edwards says the knee issues that slowed him down at the end of last season are finally behind him after a long stretch of rest and rehab.
The Timberwolves guard told reporters on Saturday that he needed roughly two months to get back to normal after dealing with a runner’s knee problem in his right knee and a hyperextended left knee that led to a bone bruise in the first round of the playoffs.
“ After the season I needed like two months, I took really like two months off to really let my knee heal… after doing all the treatments… I got back right, so I feel great,” Edwards said.
He also admitted the time away from the court came with a downside physically, but said he has trimmed back down.
“ It was super tough, but in order for my knee to heal (I had to rest it),” Edwards said. “ I put on a lot of weight and now I’ve lost it, so I’m good.”
Edwards also had praise for one of Minnesota’s newer faces, trade acquisition Cody Williams. He pointed to Williams’ defense and energy as traits that have stood out in camp.
“ I just love his defensive instincts. I think he could be really good in the NBA,” Edwards said of Williams.
“ His care factor has to go up a little more, just showing it, like everybody knows he cares but just showing it. Like you get a stop, let somebody know about it.
… Other than that he brings intensity every day. His defense is incredible.”
On the rookie front, head coach Chris Finch said second-round pick Isaiah Evans is still in the early stages of proving he can earn minutes right away. Finch said Evans has made a decent impression, but the learning curve is clear.
“ He’s been good. I think he’s certainly trying to make an impression,” Finch said.
“ Like with most young players his mistakes come from trying to do too much right now. His defense has to come up to the level we expect from our guys.
But again, these are normal growing pains for somebody in his fourth day of training camp in the NBA.”
Finch also said Minnesota’s full starting group will be on the floor in Monday’s preseason opener, and that he plans to use that lineup regularly through the preseason so the unit can build chemistry. The Wolves added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga this offseason to join Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert among the starters.
Saturday’s camp session also brought a familiar face back around the program, with former head coach and head of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau visiting the Wolves. Thibodeau, who has not coached since the Knicks let him go in 2025, also recently stopped by Houston.
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Minnesotas offseason has already given the Timberwolves a noticeably different look, and Anthony Edwards sounds as eager as anyone to see what it becomes. After a run to the Western Conference semifinals, the front office went out and added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, a pair of talented newcomers who raise the ceiling of a team that was already squarely in the playoff conversation.
Edwards, the face of the franchise, has made clear he likes where this is headed and sees the group chasing something bigger than another strong regular season. The Western Conference is still loaded, of course, which is why the next step matters so much for Minnesota, and why Edwards health and the fit of the new roster will loom as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
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Balls offensive creativity would give Minnesota another layer, but his defense is the part that could keep opposing teams hunting for openings. The Wolves would likely need their existing stoppers to do extra work around him, especially in the kinds of lineups that can be exposed over long stretches. Edwards sounds convinced the team can absorb it, but it is the sort of roster gamble that will have fans watching every matchup possession a little closer. [Read more 🡒]
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What stands out so far is how naturally Ball has begun fitting into the room, with teammates sounding encouraged by the way he has blended into the group in the opening stages. Chris Finch has also pointed to the positive effect Ball has had on the team, a promising development for a club that needs its new pieces to click quickly if it wants this move to change the shape of its offense. [Read more 🡒]