J. Cole didn’t need a long speech to get Minnesota buzzing. A few lines were enough to turn the Timberwolves’ new Anthony Edwards-LaMelo Ball pairing into a full-blown moment during the Minnesota stop of The Fall Off tour.
Cole lit up the crowd while talking about the revamped roster, and his words landed hard. “Y’all got my favorite n**** Ant-Man in this motherf***er.
And to make it even more unfair, y’all got my other favorite n** LaMelo Ball in this mother… oh my god. Y’all gone be a f**ing problem,” Cole said.
The reaction made sense, especially given Cole’s connection to Ball. He owns a stake in the Charlotte Hornets, the team Ball played for during his first six NBA seasons.
J Cole shouts out the Timberwolves at his concert in Minnesota:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 19, 2026
“Y’all got my favorite n**** Ant-Man in this motherf***er… and to make even more unfair, y’all got my other favorite n**** LaMelo Ball in this mother… oh my god. Y’all gone be a f***ing problem.”
(via… pic.twitter.com/r4jz0NS81t
Minnesota’s move for Ball came after a run to the Western Conference Semifinals, and it has pushed expectations up another level. Pairing Ball with Edwards gives the Timberwolves a skilled playmaker beside a relentless scorer who has helped change the team’s direction.
Edwards has posted career averages of 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Ball’s career numbers stand at 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
That gives Minnesota another layer of creation and adds to a group that already includes Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. Ball has also started his new chapter by showing leadership, humility and a strong work ethic.
Health remains the obvious concern for Minnesota as it tries to navigate a Western Conference that includes the Spurs and Thunder. Even so, Cole’s reaction captured the growing energy around the Timberwolves. The roster has enough talent to bother anybody, and the buzz around Edwards and Ball is no longer limited to basketball circles.
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