Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker recently spoke about his teammate, Anthony Edwards, and the mindset he had in practice ahead of the playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Intense. Motivated. Determined,” said the guard in response to how Edwards had been through the week. “You can see that he’s really imposing his leadership and getting guys involved. Very, very vocal and giving out confidence for what to expect. I think it’s important that all of us have that mindset of being ready, staying ready.”
He continued by saying, “His preparation is his preparation, and that hasn’t changed or dropped. He’s very consistent.”
“He’s kinda humbly taken that step back to say, ‘Listen, this might not be the Ant series because I’m gonna need you guys because of how they’re gonna play me,'” added Alexander-Walker. “He’s going to be aggressive. He’s going to be Ant.”
Asked Nickeil Alexander-Walker what Anthony Edwards has been like this week in practice.
"He's kinda humbly taken that step back to say, 'listen, this might not be the Ant series because I'm gonna need you guys because of how they're gonna play me' … Making sure everyone is… pic.twitter.com/MwRA3vGKOB
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 17, 2025
Alexander-Walker gave Edwards a lot of credit for his leadership and the example he is setting as a leader ahead of the postseason clash against the Lakers.
Anthony Edwards has been a pivotal player for the Wolves for the better part of his career. Now, on the verge of entering his prime, the franchise looks to him to take the reins and lead the side to the promised land.
The expectation placed upon Edwards to step up to the plate and dominate in this upcoming series is immense. Virtually every analyst and media personality sees the 23-year-old as the singular point of difference between winning and losing this series.
The three-time All-Star is coming off a rather impeccable season himself. With an average of 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, Edwards is effectively one of the best players in the game today. However, his record against the Los Angeles Lakers hasn’t necessarily been as impressive.
Stephen A. Smith was among the few journalists who pointed out Edwards’ low output in games against the Lakers this season. The guard recorded an average of 19 points per game against the Purple and Gold, with one of those games featuring a single-digit performance of eight points as well.
Although Smith was critical of Edwards, he also urged the young star to step up and establish himself as a superstar. The Wolves guard seems to have heard the challenge as he reportedly looks forward to facing off against LeBron James and the Lakers.
Edwards may be the driving force for his team, but he will need the support of his teammates. Players such as Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert will be crucial on the defensive side of the ball. Meanwhile, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Donte DiVincenzo will be key in securing rebounds and getting points on the board.
The Lakers-Wolves series is poised to be one of the most entertaining first-round matchups this postseason. The series will tip off with Game 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET.
