The Minnesota Timberwolves have appeared in the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two years, but they’re looking to take that next step and represent the conference in the NBA Finals in 2026. A Finals appearance for the Timberwolves this season would mark the first in franchise history.
However, the face of the franchise, guard Anthony Edwards, thinks that his team will have to go through two players in the 2026 NBA Playoffs to accomplish that goal. Edwards said Minnesota will have to beat Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic or Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“We ain’t going to get to the finals without going through Luka or Shai,” Edwards said. “I just gotta keep getting better. That’s the main thing.”
It’s self-explanatory as to why Edwards mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander since he’s the head of the snake of the defending champions. Also, Doncic isn’t far removed from carrying the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals and knocking out the Timberwolves in the process.
However, Edwards got the better of Doncic when the Timberwolves took on the Lakers in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Minnesota sent Los Angeles home in a gentleman’s sweep after Edwards averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals per contest in the best-of-seven series. To add insult to injury for Doncic and the Lakers, they lost the series convincingly despite being the higher seed. They were the No. 3 seed in the West and took on a No. 6-seeded Timberwolves team.
Still, if Edwards and Doncic just so happen to cross paths again in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the former will be taking on a very different Lakers team. No longer does the team have a massive hole at the center position, as former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton is in the fold, and for as flawed a player as he is, his talent is undeniable.
Lakers fans are surely hoping that if Edwards and Doncic square off in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, there will be a different outcome compared to last year.
In light of the improvements that the Lakers have made this offseason, fans should be optimistic that they could soon get revenge against the Timberwolves in the playoffs.