Shortly after Jonathan Kuminga signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was reported that Anthony Edwards played a key role in recruiting Kuminga to join Minnesota. During his introductory press conference, Kuminga elaborated on this, noting that he talked with Ant daily leading up to his decision and that he appreciated how genuine Edwards is.
“I think me and Melo and Ant spoke pretty much every day, especially Ant," Kuminga said. "He called me every single time; he would check up on me, and he’s a very, very genuine person. He didn’t have to do that… we had so many great conversations, and not just about basketball, about kids, life, things you wouldn’t even think about, fishing, stuff like that… Them wanting me to be here, it felt real, and they’re very genuine people, people you can sit down with and have a conversation... Making that decision was very easy after talking to Alonzo (Gee), and Tim (Connelly), and the rest of the guys."
Much has been made about the Timberwolves' improved chemistry this offseason. These talking points include Ant and LaMelo Ball spending time together soon after Ball was traded to Minnesota, and the team's trip to visit Rudy Gobert in Paris. Edwards' constant communication with Kuminga is the latest example of the new group getting off on the right foot, and Ant's role in ensuring this.
Edwards talking to Kuminga every day is a remarkable effort. It clearly made a difference in Kuminga's decision to join the Timberwolves, and it will make a difference once the season starts.
The Timberwolves' improved chemistry could be a game-changer
Once the season gets rolling, Minnesota's chemistry will be helpful. New teams always take some time to mesh together, but by bonding in the offseason, the Timberwolves can avoid getting off to a slow start.
It can't be forgotten that the Timberwolves' chemistry felt off throughout last season. Naz Reid (among other players) spoke about the team having a moodiness problem, and you could feel this tension at times from the couch.
The best teams have strong chemistry. Look at the recent champion New York Knicks. Three starters played in college together, and Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby quickly fit in with the rest of the group. This culminated in a championship run centered on selfless play and sacrifice.
For Kuminga, having his teammates and the organization embrace him is also relevant given his rocky tenure with the Golden State Warriors. Surely, how much Ant and company embraced him factored into his decision to leave bigger offers on the table.
The Timberwolves have a ton of talent. Still, they'll need to put it together on the court, and truth be told, there are a lot of moving pieces. Figuring out the usage puzzle between Edwards, Ball, Kuminga, Jaden McDaniels, and Ayo Dosunmu will be a tricky task. And it's easy to have concerns about Kuminga's role specifically.
Thankfully, Ant building a connection with Kuminga (and Ball) should lessen these worries. Simply put, players are more likely to be bought in and sacrifice toward a common goal when they are doing it with teammates they genuinely care about.
Kuminga has also been working out in the Wolves' practice facility with his new teammates. This should further help the acclimation process.
Plus, while the Timberwolves have championship-level talent, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are still the class of the conference and more talented than the Wolves. As such, Minnesota's chemistry needs to be on point for them to overcome the talent gap.
All signs point to the Timberwolves' chemistry vastly improving, and Edwards connecting with Kuminga is just the latest example of this.
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