New-star leader Anthony Edwards has made his mark with the Minnesota Timberwolves in recent years, making his mark as a high-profile stalwort. His prowess and tenacity on the court have attracted a lot of attention, but the key question is whether he can lead the Timberwolves to the pinnacle of franchise history.
In his fourth season in the NBA, Anthony Edwards finally brought a ray of light to Minnesota. In addition to his professional pinnacle and the team's ambition to succeed, what he brings to Timberwolves fans is a sense of authenticity. Not only is he an ace who can lead the team to win games, but it is also conceivable that he will lead the team to the playoffs and victory, or even a championship.
This season, Anthony Edwards has taken his performance to the next level, averaging 26.3 points and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 37.9% from three-point range, a new career high. More crucially, he showed a strong momentum on the court to dominate the game and determine the outcome of the game.
In the unpredictable nature of the NBA, the top professional basketball league, it takes hard work and time for even a player with exceptional talent to become a superstar competing for awards year after year. Considering the volatile nature of the NBA, such as sudden trades, free agent signings, and individual player advancements, can lead to dramatic changes in the tide of the game.
Conversely, a major injury or a sudden dip in performance can make a mess of an otherwise promising season. In the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs, for example, the Nets' Irving and Harden were injured one after another, which led to a reversal of the original lead and finally allowed the Bucks to win the championship. NBA executives and players generally believe that if Irving and Harden can stay healthy, the Nets' chances of winning a championship will be greatly improved.
Another example is the 2019 championship game, where the Warriors' Durant withdrew in the second round due to injury, but the team still made it to the Finals. Although Durant forced his comeback to perform well, he was reimbursed for a torn Achilles tendon on a layup, and then Thompson was also reimbursed for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, and ultimately failed to complete the three-straight championship. If Durant and Thompson had been able to stay healthy at that time, the ownership of the championship would have become unpredictable.
Now, Anthony Edwards is on his way to superstardom. We compare him to today's greats and see how long it took them to reach peak star status in their fourth season of career.
Take Durant, for example, who is a scoring prowess, who spent a full five years with the Thunder to reach the Finals for the first time. After joining the Warriors, he won a championship in his 10th season. Given that historical trajectory, while the Timberwolves could be contentious for a championship this season, it will take some time for Anthony Edwards and the team to make that ambitious goal happen.
Overall, the rise of Anthony Edwards has breathed new energy and hope into the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although the road to success is uncertain, fans are looking forward to the future of him and the team.