What has remained nearly an absolute truth throughout the history of the NBA is that championship teams will have at least one player considered among the game’s best. Whether it’s Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Bill Russell, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it is paramount to have a top-notch superstar in order to garner a ring.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards, seen by most as a superstar player. As someone who just turned 24 years old, it is safe to assume that he hasn’t reached his absolute best form yet, a scary endeavor for the rest of the league. Almost every NBA championship-winning team has had at least one player named first team All-NBA, something that Edwards has come close to achieving, and could for the first time this season.
NBA champions almost always have a first team All-NBA player
On Monday, ESPN posted an article on the stat that could swing every NBA team’s 2025-26 season. For the Timberwolves, it was 21. That is how many consecutive NBA champions have had at least one player make an All-NBA first team, either that year or recently.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the last team to win it all without one of those players was the 2004 Pistons. While that team didn’t have an All-NBA first team player, they still rostered two Hall of Famers (Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups), two more multi-time All-Stars (Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton), and a Hall of Fame head coach (Larry Brown).
Anthony Edwards looking to make the leap to first team All-NBA
Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert have made All-NBA teams not all that long ago. But really, the only player on the Wolves who can realistically make the first team in 2025-26 would be Edwards.
In the last two seasons, Edwards has finished tied for seventh and seventh in MVP voting. With All-NBA teams now positionless, that has put him squarely on the All-NBA second team both years.
Taking a small leap forward in his sixth season would likely see Edwards making the first team, as long as Minnesota finishes with 50+ wins. He’s also remained mostly healthy throughout his career, and there are likely to be star players who don’t reach the 65-game minimum needed to be eligible. With the Thunder bringing back their whole championship core, and the Rockets and Nuggets looking improved, a Herculean effort from Edwards will be needed to bring the Timberwolves their first title.