He has taken Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, but wants to get it over the hump.
Anthony Edwards, 23, is one of the most exciting talents in the National Basketball Association. He made the Timberwolves captivating to watch this season, especially leading it to the No. 6 seed in the conference playoffs. Edwards handled LeBron James and Stephen Curry before coming up short versus Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the league’s Most Valuable Player.
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Anthony Edwards details what happened in Game 4 loss to Thunder
Some want to crown “Ant-Man” as the face of the NBA, yet it is not time right now. He finished the regular season ranked fourth in scoring, averaging 27.6 points per game. Oklahoma City held Edwards in check in the Western Conference Finals; however, he is not hurt by the loss. He feels he has many more opportunities to get to the NBA Finals stage and win.
Anthony Edwards: “I don’t know why people would think it would hurt, it’s exciting for me. I’m 23. I get to do it a whole bunch of times…hurt is a terrible word to use. I’m good.”
“Nobody is going to work harder than me this summer.”pic.twitter.com/Kzxwbe0XZL
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“It’s exciting,” Edwards said in his postgame presser about coming up short of the finals two years in a row.
“I don’t know why people think it would hurt. It is exciting for me. I’m 23, I get to do it a whole bunch of times. I’m hurt more so for myself for Mike [Michael Jordan]. I came up short for Mike. We tried last year and could not get it, we tried this year, and we will try again next year. Hurt is a terrible word to use. I am good.”
Edwards’ confidence and personality remind people of Jordan. He entered the NBA in 1984, but Jordan did not win his first championship with the Chicago Bulls until 1991. It took Jordan seven years, so Edwards has a little time to gain his first before “His Airness” got his first. Edwards finished his fifth year in the league, but he vows this summer will be a grinder for him.
“I am going to work my butt off this summer,” Edwards said.
“No one is going to work harder than me, I can tell you that much. I am going to try to make it happen for Mike.”
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
