Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball reportedly covered the cost of bringing virtually the entire Minnesota Timberwolves roster to Paris for offseason workouts and team-building activities.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Edwards and Ball offered to foot the bill for the whole team's trip to France as Minnesota begins building chemistry around its revamped roster ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Nearly the entire Wolves squad made the trip, where players worked out together and spent time away from basketball as they prepare for significant changes both on the court and inside the locker room.
The gesture represents another step in Edwards' growing leadership role. Minnesota has lost several prominent veteran voices this offseason, including Julius Randle, Kyle Anderson and Mike Conley, while longtime Timberwolf Naz Reid was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in the deal that brought Ball to Minnesota.
Edwards has also reportedly made an effort to help Ball settle into his new surroundings since the blockbuster trade.
"He's extremely excited about the [Ball] deal," Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch told The Athletic. "Now, it's up to him to take the next step in leadership. His voice has grown intelligently and appropriately over the last few seasons. And now, it's got to be the combination of the voice plus the everyday presence."
Timberwolves begin building new-look chemistry
Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are now entering their seventh seasons with Minnesota and are the longest-tenured players on the roster, putting additional responsibility on them as the franchise enters a new phase.
Rudy Gobert, meanwhile, helped organize the Paris experience in his home country and made sure his teammates had everything they needed for both workouts and their time in the city.
The trip also gave Gobert his first opportunity to work on the court with Ball. Minnesota believes the point guard's elite passing, particularly his ability to create lob opportunities, could unlock another dimension of Gobert's offensive game.
Photos from the gathering showed almost the entire roster in attendance, including Minnesota's two-way players. Donte DiVincenzo, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, and Bones Hyland were the notable absences.
The team-wide gathering also continues something Edwards has increasingly emphasized as he grows into the face and leader of the franchise.
"I think winning starts with being together, and it starts in the summertime, man," Edwards said before last season. "We've got to be together. We've got to be a team."
Minnesota enters the new campaign with a significantly different roster and playing style after acquiring Ball and moving on from several key veterans. The Paris trip gave the Wolves an early opportunity to begin developing the chemistry they will need as they attempt to return to championship contention.
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