Has Anthony Edwards become the Timberwolves’ Mr. January?

The Minnesota Timberwolves know that no matter the circumstances, the team can count on shooting guard Anthony Edwards to suit up. But did the front office and coaching staff really factor in all of the magic that happens for the team after he does? This is a team that has been racing on at least one flat tire for more than half the season, and yet Anthony Edwards has powered the team into position for contention.

As power forward/center Karl Anthony Towns rests and recovers, Edwards has donned his hard hat and shown up to work for every game for the Timberwolves this season. At the end of the 2022 calendar year, that hadn’t helped the Timberwolves make much in the way of positive momentum.

But January 2023? That’s a completely different story.

Mr. January flexes his muscles

For January 2023, the Timberwolves have improved from a lowly record of 16-21 to where the team now stands at 25-25. That’s a 9-4 run for this Timberwolves team, and that is despite the fact that this team has been competing without Towns, without backup point guard Jordan McLaughlin, and at times without starting center and backup power forward Taurean Prince.

Truth be told, Edwards has played through a hip injury, suffered by a nasty fall on a drive to the hoop against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 30, 2022. The Timberwolves lost that game and the last game in December to the Detroit Pistons. While Edwards has played through his pain, he has been on fire.

Edwards suited up for that game. In fact, he has not missed a game.

While he started every game, he has not been at 100 percent health. He had to check out of a game against the LA Clippers after playing just 23 minutes. He had to check out early against the Detroit Pistons at halftime, but because the game was getting far out of hand, he returned to the game after being ruled out at halftime, in an attempt to rally his teammates. The Timberwolves fell short in that one.