Anthony Edwards is on the rise to become one of the biggest stars in the NBA. He recently shared some tips on how to pursue greatness in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
“You have to focus on what’s important,” Edwards said. “A lot of people get to something and lose sight of why they got all that fame or money. I just want to keep getting better at basketball.”
Edwards is about to enter his fifth season in the league and has already accomplished a lot. He is a two-time NBA All-Star, a one-time All-NBA selection, and recently won his first Olympic gold medal. While his accolades may seem underwhelming compared to other stars, the good news is that he is only 23 years old. Edwards still has more than a decade to make his mark on the league.
The Evolution of Anthony Edwards
Since joining the NBA in the 2020-21 season, Anthony Edwards has quickly made his mark on the Minnesota TimberwolvesHe finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting, averaging 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Those impressive numbers for a rookie clearly showed Edwards’ potential to become one of the league’s brightest stars.
Indeed, in just two seasons, Edwards has become an All-Star, and the Timberwolves have increasingly relied on him. It’s fair to say that Minnesota’s resurgence can be attributed to Ant-Man’s presence. In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Timberwolves advance to Western Conference Finalsmarking their first appearance since 2004 and only their second in franchise history.
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It’s worth noting that Minnesota’s first appearance in the conference finals came thanks to the efforts of Kevin Garnett, who was the reigning league MVP at the time. With that in mind, the fact that Edwards has replicated such an impact means he has what it takes to step up to the next level as well. Looking at his numbers from last season, he averaged a career-high 25.9 points and 5.1 assists. He also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
While his numbers may seem lower than recent league MVP contenders, his numbers are nothing short of remarkable. It was also because of his efforts that the Timberwolves secured third place in the Western Conference last season.
That being said, Edwards has no choice but to go for it. Especially now that he’s coming off an Olympic gold medal, he has all the motivation and momentum he needs heading into the 2024-25 season.
