Anthony Edwards didn’t hide how he feels about Minnesota’s new-look defense.
After speaking with reporters on Saturday, the Timberwolves star made it clear he sees a group that can become a problem on that end of the floor. “I like it - We’re sharing the ball a lot,” Edwards said to reporters on Saturday. “I think defensively we can really be a super team on that end, so I like it.”
That confidence comes with the Timberwolves’ offseason overhaul still fresh. Minnesota has moved away from a size-heavy approach and toward a roster built around speed, switchability and perimeter activity. Edwards pointed to the collection of guards and wings now in the mix, saying the new setup should pay off defensively.
“We got three wings who can really guard on the ball, with me, Jalen (McDaniels), and (Jonathan Kuminga), and plus the guys that's coming off the bench,” said the Atlanta native.
The starting group for the 2025-2026 Timberwolves is led by Edwards and former Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, and it ranked eighth in overall defensive rating at 113.5, per Databallr. Minnesota effectively replaced Randle in the starting lineup with new point guard LaMelo Ball, giving the team a different kind of shape on both ends.
Edwards thinks that shift can help the Wolves become even tougher to deal with when possessions break down into switches and closeouts. “LaMelo’s really good off the ball, so if we just stay in those type of situations, and just switch everything with us three, I think we’ll be really good.”
There’s a clear path for that to happen, but it starts with more disruption on the perimeter. Minnesota finished 12th in the NBA last season with 8.7 steals per game, according to Statmuse, and if this group is going to climb higher defensively, that number has to rise.
The Wolves will need more consistent pressure on the outside, especially from players who can stay connected and force mistakes. Ball may not carry a reputation as a stopper, but Edwards noted his off-ball value, and the numbers back that up: Ball averaged 1.2 steals per game last season and ranked in the 80th percentile among qualified defenders, per Databallr.
Even with all the roster changes, one piece remains the same: Rudy Gobert. The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is still the center of Minnesota’s identity on that side of the ball, and his impact showed up in the data. Gobert ranked fourth in the NBA in Defensive Shot Quality Influence, or D-SQI, with Databallr noting that his presence changed shots around the rim more than almost anyone in the league.
Ayo Dosumnu described just how difficult Gobert can be to deal with, even when the box score doesn’t fully capture it. “I learned that Rudy, defensively, sometimes his defensive metrics don't show up in a stat sheet,” said Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosumnu.
Anthony Edwards clutch defense on Mikal Bridges pic.twitter.com/nBJtAGoPPy
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) January 26, 2024
“Like, sometimes he'll get four blocks, but when you go against Rudy, Rudy is really a force there, and when he's in that drop-in, the guard is getting into the ball, and you get to that area where it's like… 15 feet to the 12 feet and you think you got a mid-range or you think you got to a shot, the way he's able to cover and alter those shots, that's something that if you watching him, you can't just pick it up. You have to really watch him over time and play against him to really see that.”
If Minnesota is going to live up to Edwards’ “superteam” language, Gobert still has to be the foundation. But Edwards’ bigger point was about the new energy around him - a younger, faster group that can switch, fly around and defend with edge.
“Us being young, man, playing with our hair on fire, and like I said defensively just having that edge, I think the whole starting five got it, I know the bench guys got it, Ayo got the bench ready to guard, TJ, Joan, so yeah it’s gonna be exciting defensively,” said Edwards.
That kind of defense, as Gregg Popovich and Coach K have often said, starts with effort and energy. For Minnesota, Gobert gives it a backbone, but the rest of the equation depends on the perimeter players bringing that same bite every night. For Ball, Edwards sees a real opportunity in what he called a true “winning situation” for the first time in his NBA career.
In Other News...
Joan Beringer Could Fix A Timberwolves Problem Fans Know Too Well
Joan Beringer enters his second season with a clear opening on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster: the chance to handle the minutes behind Rudy Gobert. For a team that has long had to manage the non-Gobert stretches carefully, that matters. Beringers appeal is straightforward enough for a coaching staff to appreciate. He brings athleticism, a promising defensive profile and enough presence around the basket to give Minnesota a different look at center when the starter sits.
The bigger question is how much of that potential shows up right away. Beringer is still a developing player, but his value could reach beyond simple backup duty if his defense translates the way the Wolves hope and his offense adds some easy finish opportunities at the rim. For a team built on making life difficult for opponents, even modest progress there could make a noticeable difference in the minutes that have too often been a soft spot. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Finch Sees One Early Sign Wolves Fans Will Love In LaMelo Ball
As Minnesota settles into the early stages of the season, Chris Finch has been paying close attention to LaMelo Balls fit and, more importantly, to the parts of his game that can sharpen the Timberwolves right away. The coachs perspective matters here because Minnesota is not looking for a reinvention so much as a seamless addition of talent, and Finchs read on Ball has centered on the idea that the guard can bring his usual style without being boxed into something unfamiliar.
The encouraging part for Wolves fans is the way Finch has framed Balls preseason work on the defensive end, where Minnesota has been searching for signs that his tools can translate beyond the highlight plays. With his length and awareness already drawing notice alongside Rudy Gobert, there is at least a real opening for Ball to contribute in a way that fits the Wolves identity, even if the full picture of his role is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Joan Beringer Just Gave Timberwolves Fans A Reason To Watch Him Closely
Joan Beringer gave the Timberwolves a useful look in their preseason meeting with the Bucks, showing why the front office is still intrigued by his long-term upside in the frontcourt. The young big man looked more comfortable as a screener and more dependable around the rim than he did as a rookie, which matters for a Minnesota team that is always searching for size and reliability inside.
The performance also came with a reminder that his development is still a work in progress. Foul trouble clipped his stint and kept him from building on the strong stretches he flashed, leaving the Wolves with the same kind of question they have had around him all along: how quickly can he turn promising tools into something they can count on every night? [Read more 🡒]