Anthony Edwards has always been a gifted scorer with unreal athleticism and sharp instincts. During his early NBA days, he was a raw player with limitless potential. With a few seasons under his belt, he has rapidly become a savvy player with a penchant for making quick-witted decisions.
Many would think Ant is still developing at 23, which is true. However, he has become such a refined offensive player that it is rare for him to make mistakes. He might miss shots, but he is taking them in the right situations.
During the Timberwolves' latest win against the Denver Nuggets, Ant struggled early on. He was guarded well by the Nuggets, and it was evident that coach Michael Malone's scheme was built around stopping Edwards from scoring.
That is a huge sign of respect from Malone and his staff, but it was also difficult to beat. Thankfully for the Timberwolves, Ant matured into a well-rounded player, as he followed the flow of the game and then took over when he needed to in the second half and the overtime periods.
Related: Anthony Edwards Finally Feels Good With His Shooting Hand
Edwards Knows Patience Goes A Long Way
In the NBA, players can get punished when they are too eager with their performances. Like most young players, Ant faced that problem often during his first few years in the league.
Now, Edwards plays a more refined offensive game with his shot selection. He is not a slasher anymore because he has vastly improved his three-point shot, which gives him and coach Chris Finch options when he's looking to score. Ant does not rely on one shot anymore, and he is a more intelligent player now because he has faced plenty of defensive coverages.
Against the Nuggets, Ant faced some pointed coverages that needed him to be a more patient player.
Anthony Edwards vs Nuggets:
34 PTS
10 REB
8 AST
Scored over half of his points in the 4Q and OT. pic.twitter.com/JSdB14ydMy
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 2, 2025
"Just trust your teammates. Nickeil was making those shots, so I would put Nickeil on my strong corner, and they can't help. Then I'm just having fun playing one-on-one," Edwards said in his post-game interview. "Just staying with the flow, they were trying to do things that the Lakers don't. Tip the floor, hounding the ball-screen with Jokic. They adjusted, they played me differently."
The Timberwolves Know They Can Trust Ant
Edwards is the undisputed superstar on the Timberwolves, so the team turns to him whenever they need a bucket. That happened again against the Nuggets because he had a rough game in the first three quarters, but he scored over half of his points in the fourth quarter and the two overtime periods.
It was impressive because he had most of the game to learn how the Nuggets were defending him, and he exploited that tactic to be a better scorer in the crucial moments.
Anthony Edwards… this sequence is incredible pic.twitter.com/Ry2Kof2GHz
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) April 2, 2025
Timberwolves forward Julius Randle saw this, and he was impressed with how much Ant has improved going against defenses designed to stop him.
"Ant was great, just being patient, taking what the defense gave him. Attacking, and making big plays late in the game," Randle said after the win. "He's not forcing anything. He's making the right play. Coaches put him in great situations... He's doing things that only Anthony Edwards can do, making tough shots in key moments."
As long as Edwards is with the team, the Timberwolves can win the game. Having someone as versatile as him as the go-to guy means Minnesota will always be competitive, so fans should be pleased about his development as an all-around scorer.
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 1:49 AM.
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