Anthony Edwards is only 22 years old, but he’s already on his way to becoming one of the faces of the NBA. The young Minnesota Timberwolves superstar helped lift his team to their first series win in the NBA Playoffs since 2004 by sweeping the Phoenix Suns. Edwards was electric in closing out the Suns in Game 4, scoring 31 of his 39 points in the second half finish the 4-0 series victory. The Wolves are now very likely to face the Denver Nuggets in round two.
Edwards isn’t just a star on the court — he’s also one of the best interviews in the league. Edwards has been dropping some hilarious lines during interviews since he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. After Minnesota’s 122-116 win in Game 4 to advance past the Suns, Edwards showed he has great leadership skills, too.
Edwards sat next to teammate Karl-Anthony Towns in the post-game press conference after the win on Sunday night. Like Edwards, Towns is also a former No. 1 overall draft pick. KAT is a great player, but at 28 years old, he’s left many observers with the sense that he hasn’t quite reached his ceiling. One of the big issues for Towns is always foul trouble. As KAT put together a great performance in Game 4, Edwards showed his leadership skills by referencing KAT’s foul trouble and praising his unstoppable offensive game when he’s able to keep himself on the court. Watch the interview here:
Ant with the highest level of praise for KAT but also
“The first three games the motherf***er just kept fouling … just stop f***ing fouling” pic.twitter.com/1C8zxuncaa— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 29, 2024
Edwards always brings so much personality to his interviews, but he knows when to show care, too. Towns was always miscast as a No. 1 option, but the arrival of Edwards has taken that burden off his shoulders. With defenses focused on Ant-Man, Towns has the space to be the best version of himself. That’s exactly the player who showed up in Game 4, as KAT finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting in the win.
This is a perfect example of how to challenge a teammate while also praising them. Edwards knows the Wolves’ road in the NBA Playoffs is only going to get more difficult from here. Minnesota needs Towns to stay focused and avoid making bad plays out of frustration. When KAT is locked in, the Wolves have an overwhelming combination of size and skill.
The Wolves also have a true superstar in Edwards. Follow his lead, and there’s no ceiling on where this team may one day go.