Anthony Edwards is a top-tier shooting guard due to his success over the past few seasons. However, doubts have risen about Edwards because of his struggles this season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves competed at the top of the Western Conference during the 2023-24 season. Anthony Edwards’s superb performance during the campaign earned him the lion’s share of the credit.
He led the Timberwolves to a 56-26 record, just one game behind the number-one seed. Edwards was superb during the regular season, averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. In the 2024-25 season, Minnesota’s superstar has not elevated his production, even though people expected him to be the sole superstar on the team.
Anthony Edwards Is Not A Top Scorer And His Age Is Not An Excuse
Despite scoring 25.9 points per game, Edwards has not taken charge as most people expected him to. Even his fellow 2020 Draft standout LaMelo Ball is scoring more than him, at 30.4 points per game, even though Ball is not recognized as a top scorer because he is mostly known for his playmaking.
Regarding points per game, Edwards ranks 10th in the league behind Damian Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks’ second option. This is not what people expected from a talented star like Anthony Edwards, who was primed to take over as the league’s best shooting guard.
Edwards might still have a case for that, yet he is not meeting superstar expectations this season. He has to deal with the hype he generated from previous seasons, so he must deliver with his production for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Some people might give him the excuse of being only 23 years old. But, other players in a similar age group are producing better than him, including LaMelo Ball and Luka Doncic, who is two years older and is scoring 28.9 points per game and contributing 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a night.
If Edwards wants to live up to the hype, he must do better on offense. He already has good efficiency at 44.8% from the field, 42.1% from beyond the arc, and 80.5% from the free-throw line. The two-time All-Star must take charge because the offensive punch Karl-Anthony Towns provided in previous campaigns is gone.
Anthony Edwards Thought He Was The Alpha Even With Towns
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a big trade in the offseason when they dealt franchise mainstay Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. The return was Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who have been a bit disappointing after joining the team.
It is even more disheartening when people see how Towns is playing in the Big Apple. After a few seasons of playing second fiddle to Anthony Edwards, the four-time All-Star center has regained his confidence with the Knicks.
This is a big blow to the Timberwolves because Edwards played well enough to secure the number-one star tag. Towns had no issues with deferring the go-to role to the younger player, but the rising presence of Anthony Edwards was undeniable at that point.
Unfortunately, what Karl-Anthony Towns is doing in New York deserves a good look. This has led to some sadness within the Timberwolves community because the 2015 #1 overall pick has to be considered a legend in Minneapolis.
This is also why Anthony Edwards needs to take over as the unquestionable star. His production must reflect his role as the go-to guy, especially with Julius Randle’s underwhelming campaign.
The new Timberwolves player averages 20.1 points and 6.7 rebounds, but he must match what Towns was doing to support Edwards. On the other hand, Donte DiVincenzo has cut his productivity almost by half, taking his 15.5 points per game in the 23-24 season to only 8.9 points a night in the 24-25 campaign.
Anthony Edwards Might Be Overrated On Defense
Anthony Edwards is often described as a fantastic two-way superstar. He has all the physical tools to become a strong defender because of his wide frame and elite athleticism. This reputation has stuck with him for a while, even though the 23-year-old is not that good of a defender.
The metrics say he has a 107.2 defensive rating while getting 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. Those statistics prove Edwards is a strong defender, yet that is not the case in the eye test.
Minnesota’s superstar guard can be an elite defender when he wants to. Unfortunately, superstars like him must find time to rest and not exert too much energy. That is why people can see him playing mediocre defense. If he can keep up his energy throughout the game, he can be the most elite 3-and-D NBA player.
Anthony Edwards might be a good defender with his physical gifts, but he needs to have the mentality of a top defender. He could take on the opponent’s best player and welcome the challenge. Of course, that would not happen in Coach Chris Finch’s system, especially with Jaden McDaniels being a superior stopper as the go-to guy.
Are We Expecting Too Much From Edwards?
Now that Edwards is the bonafide star of a franchise that wants to contend, there are high expectations. Although it is fair to ask if the Timberwolves superstar might be affected by the pressure of the top guy. Thankfully for the fans, the superstar is aware that the team can play much better.
That is unlikely because he has the personality to take on any challenge. The only thing he must do is produce and meet the expectations. They are not a big problem for Edwards because he will lock in further when Minnesota plays the game.
The expectations might be heavy and taxing on any player, but you should expect Edwards to face it head-on. Anthony Edwards is a genuine superstar, all he must do is live up to the hype while proving himself worthy of being called a top player and leader.
