Pau Gasol has never been shy about holding young stars accountable, and this week he turned his attention to Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards. Appearing on NBA Today, the two-time champion spoke candidly about Edwards’ future, especially given the young All-Star’s admiration for Kobe Bryant.
“When I talked to him actually a couple years ago in the World Championships in Manila, he said he followed Kobe and he admired Kobe and the Mamba mentality.”
“He has the desire to be the best. He’s still very young, but now he’s also getting to that next step of his career where he has to prove a little more and give a little more at all levels. Not just scoring, but let’s do a little more on the defensive end.”
“Let’s do a little more leading and challenging and holding my teammates accountable and getting the best out of them on a daily basis, in practice, at games, all across. So that’s what I’m expecting. That’s what I want to see from Ant.”
Gasol’s comments come as the Timberwolves enter the 2025–26 season with expectations higher than ever. Minnesota has fallen just short in back-to-back Western Conference Finals, losing to Luka Doncic’s Mavericks in 2024 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder in 2025.
It’s the kind of repeated heartbreak that tests whether a team can grow stronger or stagnate. Gasol, who won two championships alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, made it clear that the Wolves need Edwards to elevate beyond being a high-volume scorer.
“I think you gotta start the season with the right mindset. Obviously, you want to get to the conference finals, but ultimately, you gotta desire and act every single day that you gonna win the championship.”
Gasol also emphasized Edwards’ role as the unquestioned leader of the Wolves. Drafted first overall in 2020, Edwards has blossomed into an All-Star and the face of the franchise. Still, Gasol believes there is another level he must reach, the one Kobe himself embodied.
“I love his confidence, I love his swagger, he can play like anybody out there, but he has to do it every single night. He has to lead this team in a way that he carries everybody over.”
That responsibility is even greater given how competitive the Western Conference looks this season. The defending champion Thunder return stronger, while the Lakers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Rockets, and Warriors all loom as contenders. Minnesota, with its defensive identity and a roster featuring Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo, is still in the mix but Gasol insisted it all comes down to Edwards.
The 24-year-old guard seems to have taken that to heart. Timberwolves insider Jon Krawczynski recently reported that Edwards has gone “off the grid” this offseason, prioritizing work and personal growth after last year’s 4-1 loss to OKC.
The series left Edwards determined to close the gap between himself and stars like Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander. He has reportedly embraced a more vocal leadership role in the locker room, setting the tone for teammates both in practice and preparation.
For Gasol, that kind of commitment is exactly what Edwards needs if he truly wants to walk the path of his idol, Kobe Bryant. The Mamba mentality was never about talent alone; it was about consistency, accountability, and an unrelenting drive to win. Edwards has shown flashes of all three, but now, as Gasol put it, he must “prove more at all levels.”
The Timberwolves’ window is wide open. Whether they finally break through will depend on whether Anthony Edwards can evolve from star to champion.
