Anthony Edwards didn’t leave much room for debate on Monday.
At Timberwolves media day, the 25-year-old said he doesn’t have a list of personal benchmarks driving him this season. The answer was blunt, clean and exactly the kind of thing Minnesota fans should want to hear from the face of the franchise.
“I just want to win, whatever that looks like, whatever that takes," Edwards said.
That mindset fits the version of Edwards the Timberwolves are getting now. He’s no longer the 19-year-old newcomer trying to figure out how to carry himself in the league.
He’s a six-year veteran entering his seventh season, and he’s tied with Jaden McDaniels as the longest-tenured player on the roster. That matters, because this offseason has made one thing clear: Edwards is stepping more fully into a leadership role.
And the timing couldn’t be better for Minnesota.
The Wolves are heading into what feels like one of the most anticipated seasons in team history, and the standard around them has changed. The franchise has been to the Western Conference finals in 2024 and 2025, only to fall in five games both times. That’s progress, sure, but it also leaves the same big-picture question hanging over everything: can this team get all the way there?
Edwards’ answer, at least publicly, is that the team comes first.
That’s the right message for a player of his stature. He’s already one of the sport’s top talents, and the Timberwolves have had this kind of star before in Kevin Garnett, who remains the best player in franchise history.
Edwards could absolutely add individual hardware down the road, too. He has finished seventh in MVP voting twice and may be entering the prime of his career.
But the bigger prize is the one Minnesota has never won.
For this fan base, the dream is not another individual trophy. It’s the first NBA Finals appearance and the first championship. That’s the standard that hangs over every season now, especially with the team in its most successful stretch to date.
Edwards has already started acting like someone who understands that responsibility. He helped pay for the team’s trip to France to work out with Rudy Gobert.
He built a relationship with LaMelo Ball right away after Minnesota acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets. And this offseason, he was heavily involved in the push to bring in Jonathan Kuminga, who is set to be the team’s new starting power forward.
That’s a different posture from last year’s media day, when Edwards said his goal was to win MVP. He did add that he wanted to win a championship, too. Still, this year’s framing was unmistakable: team success is the priority, and everything else can follow.
If Edwards leads Minnesota to a title, it changes everything. It’s one thing to chase individual awards.
It’s another to be the guy who gets the Timberwolves over the top. That’s the kind of leap that puts a player in a different class entirely.
Just ask Jalen Brunson.
In Other News...
Jayson Tatum Is Already Shaping Another Stars Achilles Comeback
Donte DiVincenzo is five months into the long grind back from an Achilles tear, and the Timberwolves guard has leaned on a familiar network of NBA help as he works through it. Among the players offering support and advice is Jayson Tatum, who came back from the same injury in nine months and has become one of the examples DiVincenzo can point to as he navigates the rehab process.
The bigger picture for Minnesota is simple: DiVincenzo wants to play again this season, and the Wolves would welcome any chance to add another useful piece when the games start to matter most. Recovery from an Achilles injury is as much about the people around a player as the therapy itself, and DiVincenzo's situation is another reminder that the path back can be steadier when the support system is strong. [Read more 🡒]
Tim Connelly Leaves A Big Timberwolves Question Hanging Over Opening Night
Minnesotas media day brought the usual optimism from president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, head coach Chris Finch and the players, with the conversation centered on a group that believes it can keep building and winning. Connelly said he is happy with the organization and the direction of the team, which is the sort of message fans want to hear on the eve of another season.
The bigger question, though, is whether that sense of stability extends beyond opening night. Connelly did not offer any long-term commitment as his contract moves closer to expiration, and the backdrop of recent ownership changes only adds to the uncertainty around his future. He has drawn attention before from other front offices, too, so for a team trying to stay in the title mix, the unresolved piece is whether the architect remains in place for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
LaMelo Ball Could Unlock A Different Rudy Gobert In Minnesota
Rudy Gobert arrived at media day sounding encouraged about what LaMelo Ball could mean for Minnesotas offense, and the fit is easy to see on paper. Gobert has long been at his best when the game is simplified around him, and Ball brings the kind of passing juice that can turn routine rim runs into easy points while also giving the Timberwolves a steadier source of creation around the paint.
There is also a reason to believe this partnership could look different from the usual Gobert experience. Ball has already shown he can make life easier for bigs who finish above the rim, and his playmaking skill gives Minnesota a chance to squeeze more value out of possessions that have sometimes been too dependent on tough shot-making. If that chemistry carries over, it could sharpen not just Goberts role but the whole shape of the Wolves attack. [Read more 🡒]