Anthony Edwards had a hand in Karl-Anthony Towns’ championship run, even if it was only in a small way.
The former Timberwolves teammates spent four seasons together in Minnesota before Towns was shipped to the New York Knicks late in the 2024 offseason. It was a move that caught plenty of people off guard, but Minnesota’s front office viewed it as necessary because of Towns’ hefty contract.
Even with the separation, the bond between Edwards and Towns clearly never went anywhere. Edwards was at Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City on Friday, where he talked about how quickly he and LaMelo Ball have grown close. He also opened up about helping Towns prepare when the Knicks were facing the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
“I was talking to him (Towns) before every game because we played San Antonio," Edwards said. "Just giving him tips and stuff on which players like to go which way and stuff about Wemby. I gave him a little cheat code, and he passed the test so shout out KAT.”
Towns did, in fact, pass the test. And for Timberwolves fans, it was a nice reminder that a player who spent nine years with the franchise got to the top.
Edwards and Towns had plenty of winning moments together in Minnesota. They reached the playoffs in each of their final three seasons as teammates, and in 2024 they helped push the Wolves to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
Now, two years after they were last teammates, the friendship is still going strong. After the Knicks blew out the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 to finish off their first-round series, Towns shouted into the camera for Ant to get better. That came after Edwards dealt with a bone bruise and left knee hyperextension in Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
Edwards ended up returning sooner than expected, getting back on the floor for the series opener against the Spurs in the next round.
After the Knicks won the championship, Towns spoke with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and made sure to give love to his former Timberwolves teammates, with Edwards singled out in particular. He said the two are always talking, something Edwards backed up at Fanatics Fest.
So yes, Edwards can claim a tiny piece of this title run. And maybe, if Minnesota and San Antonio cross paths again in next year’s playoffs, Towns will be the one returning the favor and helping Ant pass the test.
In Other News...
Jaylen Clark Faces The One Question That Could Define His Wolves Role
Jaylen Clark is back on a three-year, $10 million deal, and that alone says the Timberwolves still see value in what he already does well. His defense has made him a useful piece, the kind of wing who can raise the floor for a rotation that needs length, activity and toughness on the perimeter.
The question is whether that defensive utility can hold up if the shot never fully comes around. Clarks spot in the lineup has been tied to his three-point consistency, and his ability to stay on the floor will likely hinge on becoming a more reliable catch-and-shoot option. If that part of his game clicks, he has a path to a much bigger role in Minnesota. [Read more 🡒]
Trading Randle Wont Erase The Timberwolves Biggest Early Threat
Trading Julius Randle may have changed the look of Minnesotas roster, but it does not automatically solve the bigger problem hanging over the Timberwolves. Britt Robsons read is that the moodiness around the team is more symptom than cause, a reflection of the situation the group has been in rather than one player alone. In other words, the chemistry questions are still there even after the move.
That is why the next stretch matters so much for Chris Finch and the core around him. Finch will have to coach differently, Anthony Edwards will need to approach the season differently, and any new addition such as LaMelo Ball would have to be shaped into the best possible fit. Even then, the Wolves would still be betting on Ball to avoid the habits that have raised concerns before, while getting steadier play from Jaden McDaniels and TJ Shannon Jr. along the way. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Made Another Move Wolves Fans Needed To See
The Thunders offseason has taken another sharp turn, and for Minnesota, it is the kind of development worth watching closely. Oklahoma City has been trimming payroll and reshaping the roster around a cost-cutting plan that already sent Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe elsewhere, signaling a willingness to sacrifice some of the depth that helped make the team so tough to play against.
For the Timberwolves, the bigger question is what all of that means when the Western Conference race tightens up. Oklahoma City still has the look of a contender, but every move that chips away at its defensive versatility gives Minnesota a little more reason to believe there is room to close the gap, especially in a conference where margins can swing quickly from one roster decision to the next. [Read more 🡒]