Anthony Edwards has accomplished a lot in his five-year career so far. He has helped the Minnesota Timberwolves reach back-to-back conference finals, accounting for two of the franchise's three WCF appearances. Edwards has also made three All-Star teams, two All-NBA second teams, and led the league in total 3-pointers last season.
However, the 24-year-old has another level to reach, and he is motivated to make a leap this season. An All-NBA first-team jump is a clear goal, especially given the 20-plus-year streak of every NBA champion having an All-NBA first-team member. Regardless, the sky is the limit for Ant, and he is a clear dark horse MVP candidate.
During training camp, Edwards has made it clear his goal is to win MVP and the championship. This goal is certianly lofty but it's resonable.
Edwards' path to winning the MVP will be connected with the Wolves rising up in the standings and him making strides as a playmaker. Of course, the competition is steep and it's far from a guarantee, but there's a clear path to an MVP season for Edwards.
Improved playmaking and team success will be key to Edwards' MVP case
Last season, the Wolves finished as the No. 6 seed, winning 49 games. However, the year before, they won 56 games and finished as the No. 3 seed. With Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo acclimated to the Wolves' core and the upside Minnesota showed in the playoffs, a jump in the standings feels likely.
Despite this, the Wolves are typically viewed as the fourth-best team (or lower) in the West. It's unlikely that the Wolves will be able to dethrone the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nevertheless, it's possible they could top the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets (especially after the Fred VanVleet injury). This would still be an unexpected outcome in the eyes of many, giving Edwards a clear MVP case.
While Randle is a high-quality second option and the Wolves have a well-rounded supporting cast, Edwards still has more responsibilities than the vast majority of stars. Notably, last season, Edwards was the most blitzed player on pick and rolls. It's fair to expect this trend to continue as Mike Conley ages and Nickeil Alexander-Walker left in free agency this summer.
Top ten players that have been blitzed most often in pick and rolls this season.
— Owen Phillips (@owenlhjphillips) April 7, 2025
Defenses are loading up on Ant and forcing him to be a playmaker -- last year his blitz % was 9 percent pic.twitter.com/8uUmeWm5jC
Mid-range and post-scoring have been key talking points for Edwards' improvement this offseason. However, taking a leap as a playmaker would truly propel the Wolves' season and Edwards' MVP chances. Last season, Edwards averaged 4.5 assists and 3.2 turnovers. To reach another level as a playmaker, Edwards will need to make better reads, especially when he's double-teamed.
If Edwards can average 6-plus assists and cut back on his turnovers, his MVP chances will skyrocket. Similarly, this will likely lead the Wolves to more success, which is, of course, key to a player's MVP case. Edwards is already an elite scorer, averaging 27.6 ppg last season, plus he's an impactful two-way player. Overall, it's clear that improving as a playmaker is the next step for Edwards to be a clear MVP candidate.
The MVP competition is steep, but Edwards has one major advantage
Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the clear MVP front-runners. However, someone may shake things up, and Edwards is a prime candidate to do so. Voter fatigue is a real thing, and since these three players have already won an MVP (two in Giannis' case and three in Jokić's case), the race could tilt in favor of a first-time winner like Edwards.
The talent of Jokić's and SGA's teams could hurt their cases. Conversely, it's fair to wonder if Giannis' team will be good enough for him to have an MVP case even in a weak Eastern Conference. Ultimately, if the Wolves finish as a top-three seed and Edwards improves as a playmaker, an MVP award could be in play for him.