Minnesota Timberwolves Roundup: Garnett on Minnesota, Edwards on MVP

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ past and future both spoke in the media this week, and they each had some notable comments.

Kevin Garnett talked with Bleacher Report and discussed his tenure in Minnesota, including why he should have left sooner. Also, NBA.com wrote a feature story Anthony Edwards and his future goals, including winning the Most Valuable Player award.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards wants to make a leap in second year

In what should be a surprise to absolutely no one, Edwards is extremely confident about his sophomore season as a professional and is striving towards the ultimate individual goal: a league MVP.

Edwards spoke to Mark Medina at NBA.com and mentioned that he wasn’t all too disappointed in missing out on the Rookie of the Year award that ultimately went to LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets, but that he has loftier goals.

"“I don’t care about that,” Edwards told NBA.com. “I’m happy ‘Melo got it. They were saying our Draft class wasn’t going to be good, anyway. So, it didn’t bother me that I didn’t get it.”…“I’m trying to be MVP,” Edwards said. “I’m not really worried about Rookie of the Year.”"

If you’ve listed to any Edwards pressers over the past year, you aren’t shocked at this news.

Edwards went on to talk about doing whatever he can to help his team win, and the article also has quotes from Karl-Anthony Towns and head coach Chris Finch regarding Edwards’ impressive work ethic, as well as just how notable his rookie performance was given the lack of a training camp and summer league that help rookies prepare for the pro game in a normal offseason.

It’s a fun article that includes some typically candid comments from Ant, including an admission that he “still hasn’t figured out the best approach” to a routine and getting himself mentally ready to dominate every night.

Kevin Garnett wishes he would have left the Minnesota Timberwolves sooner

Kevin Garnett is the most beloved figure in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history.

He’s head and shoulders and torso and waist above every other player who has ever suited up for the team, a Hall-of-Famer, and a non-Minnesotan who entirely embraced the Twin Cities for years up on years, even shouting out ‘Sota in the immediate aftermath of winning his championship with the Boston Celtics.

With a new Showtime documentary out now (aptly named Anything Is Possible), Garnett is making the media rounds and touched on his time in Minnesota — including the timing of his departure — in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Sean Highkin.

When asked to name one decision he’d like to have back, The Big Ticket said this:

"I would have gone to the Celtics a little earlier. After Sam [Cassell] and Spree [Latrell Sprewell] didn’t get their extensions, I would have left Minnesota a little earlier. I told Paul [Pierce] that, and he kind of got mad at me."

Garnett went on to say the following, in part:

"I think what you started to see out of that was in my years in Minnesota, it wasn’t working and I wanted to change it up. And I wanted to change it up and play with players that would push me to be better and be something different. I think it was time. Minnesota was starting to get to the point where it was unappreciative of what I brought to the game. I felt like the mindset of winning wasn’t the same in Minnesota. My thirst for winning and being the best in the league and to hoist the trophy was kind of psychotic, and I don’t think the owner [Glen Taylor] shared that same passion with me. I don’t really have too many regrets, but if we’re talking about on the court, I probably would have left Minnesota a little earlier."

It’s hard to blame Garnett. Obviously, he had immediate success in Boston and never achieved that level of success in Minnesota through no fault of his own.

Still, it’s on doubt difficult for Wolves fans to hear that KG wishes he’d gotten out sooner. It’s yet another example of the issues that Timberwolves ownership and front office leadership has had over the years.