Despite Anthony Edwards' impressive counting stats in Game 2, he has garnered criticism again. The Minnesota Timberwolves are now down 0-2 in the Western Conference Finals to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
This has led to people going at Edwards because he is not performing to the level that could propel the Timberwolves to a victory. This includes ESPN analyst Jay Williams, who called Edwards an immature player.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) in the fourth quarter during game two of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images
The NBA is in a new era and needs new superstars to lead the charge. Edwards is seen as one of those superstars because he has all the characteristics of a top-tier player.
He is an explosive athlete who can score on all three levels. Earlier in his career, he almost exclusively played as a slasher, but he has improved his three-point shooting to become statistically the most prolific shooter of the 2024-25 season. However, that might be an issue for some analysts with his game.
Williams' Thoughts On Edwards' Performances Against OKC
Edwards had a strong performance with 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. However, it was an inefficient night from beyond the three-point line, going 1-of-9.
This led to him getting criticized for not having the best shot selection. Williams was a big critic of this because he felt the Timberwolves lost because of Edwards.
"I firmly believe that the coronation of Anthony Edwards is premature. I think you saw a sizable gap last night," Williams said on Get Up on ESPN. "I know there is a three-year difference between an MVP who has a mental basketball IQ that is high and exceptional and a young player who can be that down the line, but there is still a ton of room for maturity and basketball IQ that needs to be increased for him to get there."
Williams makes a good point about the difference between the shot selection between Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards. However, Ant made the right play often because the Thunder's defense was too good to crack.Edwards Is Developing Well As A Superstar
Edwards Is Developing Well As A Superstar
It is fair to have expectations from a superstar player, but Edwards is not the full package yet. He should be accountable for shooting too many threes, but there is still room to grow. Edwards showed he can get to the paint, which could open the floor for other players to step up due to his rim pressure.
The rest of the team stepped up, but Edwards' co-star Julius Randle had his roughest game of the 2025 postseason. He must play better to prove he is one of the Timberwolves' best players again. It was a tough night, but Minnesota has shown promising signs at times.
It will be a tough comeback to pull off, but the series is headed to the Timberwolves' homecourt. That should play a role in the series because the Timberwolves will be extra motivated to play better. With Edwards showing that he still has room to grow, he could have a top-tier performance against at Target Center.
At only 23, Edwards has carried the franchise on his back. This is proof that he is still developing, but he is playing a more mature style than most players of his age. Williams' callout for the shot selection is valid, but it might have gone too far when he labels Edwards as an immature player.