Young star Anthony Edwards really lived up to the hype last season, pouring in 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists on 44% shooting. His talents as a scorer have put him in the same tier as the elites, and Minnesota is entrusting him to lead their team to success for years to come.
While Edwards may still have a lot to prove, he is working hard this summer to ensure that he has the best odds of succeeding.
More important in the quest to sift through what is real and what is theatric is to listen to what’s being said as much as you watch what is being presented. And behind the scenes, both in Minnesota and his hometown of Atlanta, the whispers are growing louder that Edwards is positioning himself to make the third-year leap that everyone so badly wants to see of him.
Those who have seen him up close and personal, watched him go through workouts designed to grow his game from unbridled to undeniable, just shake their heads and almost chuckle sheepishly when asked about how he’s looking.
“Just wait ’til you see him,” they invariably say.
We have seen snippets of him, of course. But the implication is that those slick videos are just an appetizer. When Edwards is told this in a recent phone conversation with The Athletic, it doesn’t faze him.
“I’ve been working on everything, man,” Edwards said before an event connected to a new partnership with HEIR, forming an NFT that allows fans to purchase memberships for “Antman’s Army” to access exclusive content from him. “Just getting better. I’m trying to take that leap this year and be the best player I can be. Trying to take my team as far as we can.”
Ant putting in that work this summer at The O‼️@theantedwards_ (via @GRSportsMedia) pic.twitter.com/ZC0j68JCoc
— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) June 18, 2022
Drafted 1st overall in the 2020 Draft, expectations were high from the jump for Edwards, who joined the Timberwolves after a college experience at Georgia.
With elite scoring potential, impressive athleticism, and a work ethic that rivals some of the game’s best, Ant is showing that he is willing to put the work in to be great.
It will be up to the other guys (like Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell) to meet him there and help him lift the Timberwolves to new heights in the West.
We don’t yet know how it will play out for the guy or his young squad, but Edwards is quickly earning respect and recognition around the league for his mindset and mentality with just two years of experience.
