Anthony Edwards had a star-making debut in the 2022 NBA Playoffs, as he led his Minnesota Timberwolves to an upset win over the #2 seed Memphis Grizzlies in their first-round matchup. Edwards contributed by scoring 36 points in the 130-117 win for the Wolves.
After Edwards had a fantastic performance in the play-in tournament to help Minnesota get past the LA Clippers and make it to the playoffs, many people have said he will be the X-Factor for the Wolves in the Playoffs. He is already proving he is built for this stage with that explosive debut.
Ant Man showed his offensive range, excelling as a three-level scorer during the game, giving Memphis extreme matchup headaches. His versatility and explosiveness make him a hard matchup. However, Edwards distinguishes himself by his fearlessness, as he explained in his post-game interview by saying there isn’t a shot he won’t take.
Anthony Edwards:
"I love my shots. Whatever shot I take, whether it’s a stepback trey ball or a stepback mid-range. Or a floater or a layup. Whatever my shot is, I like it. Sometimes coach may not like it, but I love my shot."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) April 16, 2022
Edwards openly saying Chris Finch doesn’t like his shot selection makes sense. After all, Edwards started out as an inefficient rookie through most of his last season before finding his groove later in the season. This year, he has been solid from day one and helped the Wolves make the Playoffs in just his second season.
However, Finch will not mind if the shots are falling, as they have been. Edwards may be a superstar in the making and the perfect player to pair alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. The core of this team is still young, but having a piece like Edwards will provide reassurances to the front office that they made the right pick in 2020.
Minnesota may surprise the Grizzlies, but a deep run in the playoffs looks unlikely for the team at this stage. However, the development of Anthony Edwards has been a joy to watch and may just be the catalyst for future success.
