Anthony Edwards is already operating at a star level, but the idea of him taking another step is exactly the kind of thing that should make the rest of the NBA uneasy.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch recently told Chris Hine of The Star Tribune that Edwards has been wired differently this offseason.
“He’s engaged in a way like I’ve not seen, and I think it’s a combination of factors,” Finch said. “Obviously excitement of playing alongside LaMelo.
… I think it’s also a maturation and recognizing what the team needs, where the team’s at. He’s far more like, I think, just engaged in the overall sport.
He’s looking, he’s watching, he maybe didn’t have the confidence to express some of his thoughts before, and now he’s just way more communicative, and it’s fun.”
That kind of note matters because Edwards has made a habit of adding something to his game every summer. In 2024, he turned himself into one of the league’s best 3-point shooters. Last year, he layered in a mid-range game that gave him more ways to score and made him even tougher in clutch moments.
There are still boxes left to check, though. Finch pointed to Edwards needing to raise his defensive level, and that’s a big one after what happened last season. His playmaking could also climb another rung, but with LaMelo Ball in the picture, that development isn’t as urgent.
For Edwards, the next jump is likely to come through the stuff that doesn’t always show up first in a box score: leadership, consistency, and setting the tone on both ends. Cutting out the plays off and sharpening his overall approach would go a long way toward unlocking the defensive ceiling he already has.
Edwards has the physical tools to be a true two-way superstar. The issue has been the engagement, especially away from the ball, and that slipped to the worst defense of his career last season.
If he cleans that up, his place in the league hierarchy changes fast. Finch’s comments suggest that kind of growth is very much on the table.
LaMelo’s arrival could also help by easing some of the burden Edwards carried last season. That matters, because he was asked to do a lot.
The ceiling here is obvious. If Edwards becomes a better defender and a stronger leader, he could push into the top tier of NBA stardom and maybe even enter the MVP conversation. He’s close already, but there’s still a sense that one more layer is missing.
Finch saying Edwards has never been this engaged is a strong sign that he may be ready for a bigger leadership role. For Minnesota, that would be a welcome development.
The Timberwolves have already had plenty of success, including two conference finals appearances in the past three years. But a more locked-in Edwards could raise the whole operation another level, especially for a team that has sometimes ridden the roller coaster of the regular season.
Minnesota has also had nights when it looks disengaged, and Edwards needs to help make sure that doesn’t keep happening. With Rudy Gobert and Trey Lyles suddenly being the only Wolves players in their 30s, the team needs more leadership, and it should come from its best player.
That’s why Finch’s comments land as such a promising sign. If Edwards really is headed for his best season yet, the rest of the league has every reason to pay attention.
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