The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the league's most impressive teams in the 2024-25 season. They struggled during the regular season, only getting the sixth seed, but they showed growth throughout the team.
A big-time player who kept growing during the campaign is Anthony Edwards. He has always been a prominent figure on the Timberwolves roster, but he grew into his leadership role after Karl-Anthony Towns got traded to the New York Knicks.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch talks with forward Anthony Edwards (1) in the first quarter of the game with the Denver Nuggets at Target Center.
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Edwards has been fantastic. He is a strong performer with scoring and playmaking, but he has also grown as a top player on the Timberwolves roster.
Everybody on the roster looks up to him, even if he is only 24. That is what keeps impressing coach Chris Finch and veteran teammate Mike Conley Jr., who see Edwards as the player who will spearhead the Timberwolves' charge.
Finch Is Always Impressed With Edwards' Growth
As the Timberwolves' best player, all eyes are always on Edwards. He has proven himself to the locker room, so they all respect him. They interact with him every day, so they see what makes him such an endearing teammate.
He takes to the leadership quite naturally, which cements him atop the pecking order in the Timberwolves locker room. Despite his status, Edwards remains appreciative of his teammates, which makes him such a fun superstar to play with and coach.
"He’s fearless, he’s not afraid to fail. I think going back a number of years there have been times in his career where he wasn’t sure if he wanted it all," Finch said about Edwards' development. "That would kind of hold himself back a bit, but he now knows he doesn’t have a choice, it’s coming, and he’s embraced that. It's a lot for a player to take that on."
Edwards Will Only Keep Growing As A Leader
Since he is only 24, it is fair to expect Edwards will only keep developing. He is already the best player on the team, but he has also developed good leadership qualities. Having a teammate like Conley helps with that, but Edwards has always shown love to his teammates.
During interviews, he tends to shower his teammates with praise. That is a great part of his approach to leadership because every player feels empowered to perform.
Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid have been Edwards' longest-tenured teammates, and Ant has always been supportive of them. Now, they are vital to the Timberwolves' cause for competing in the Playoffs.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are superb during the present, but they have a bright future ahead of them because Edwards is a superstar who will only keep growing as a leader and player.