As soon as Anthony Edwards stepped into the NBA, it was clear there was potential to become a superstar in the league. The swag, the personality, the playstyle, everything lined up for Ant to be a potential face of the league. I was a big Edwards believer, but at 22, he's doing something I couldn't even have imagined would have happened this early in his career. In just his second postseason, Anthony Edwards has officially put himself on the map as one of "the guys" in the NBA going forward.
From: Sports Illustrated
The Future in Minnesota
The Rudy Gobert trade was heavily criticized when it happened. People thought there's no way that a player who's only elite defensively can be worth even a fraction of that. The only way this could be feasible, the ONLY WAY, was if Anthony Edwards became one of the best players in the league. After just two years, he's done that. In his fourth year in the league, Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. He was clearly a viable number one option, but to be able to take down the superpowers of the West, Ant needed to be more than that.
Anthony Edwards has stepped up to the plate and is quickly becoming the future of American basketball. In the first round, Minnesota matched up against Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the Suns. 2023 was not a fun year for Edwards when he faced the Suns. He was inefficient and downright bad, averaging 14 points. Many picked Phoenix to dominate the Timberwolves with their struggles offensively. Then the playoffs happened. Ant rose to the occasion, averaging a hair over 31 points per game in a four game sweep of the Suns. Not only was he amazing, but his personality shined throughout the series. He dunked on KD to end a game, and then channeled his inner DX and told Phoenix to suck it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7dwJtQMM0
From: YouTube (Chaz NBA)
After sweeping the Suns, Minnesota faced the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets. The Wolves actually faced Denver last year, and fell to them in five games. This year, revenge has taken place. Anthony Edwards has led his team to two dominant wins on the road, and all signs are looking towards them continuing that momentum at home. In a stunning Game 1, Anthony Edwards dropped 43 on the champs. He was unstoppable throughout, a true nightmare for Denver to figure out. In Game 2, Edwards only scored a measly 27 points. That was considered an off night for Edwards. It didn't matter, as the defense clamped Denver for 48 minutes, allowing only 80 points.
In the modern NBA, generational players start to peak at around age 24, and continue their dominance for 10+ years. At just 22, Anthony Edwards has ascended to another level, ready to carry the torch as the best American player in the league. He's got the swag, the skills, and the highlights to take over the league.
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