In recent years, Anthony Edwards has established himself as a top-five-level player. However, the soon-to-be 24-year-old still has another level to reach. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon recently discussed an area of Edwards' game that head coach Chris Finch is looking for him to improve.
“I ran into Chris Finch when I was out in Vegas, and Finch talked about a step he wants to see Ant take this summer. And that’s learning how to attack from the mid-range,” Tim MacMahon recently reported on ESPN.
MacMahon also said that Finch mentioned Kevin Durant as someone who utilizes this mid-range and makes quick decisions out of it, which makes him harder to double-team. Undoubtedly, Edwards developing a mid-range could take his game to the next level.
Edwards' mid-range scoring
With elite athleticism and rim finishing paired with recently developed elite 3-point shooting, Edwards is one of the league’s most prolific scorers. However, Edwards barely operated from the mid-range this past season. In the regular season, he shot 37.6 percent on just 2.7 mid-range attempts per game. These numbers further plummeted in the playoffs, where Edwards shot 30 percent on 2 mid-range attempts per game.
When teams packed the paint and Edwards’ 3-point shot wasn’t falling, he had nowhere to go. This was particularly problematic in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Adding a mid-range shot would make Edwards a more well-rounded scorer and much less predictable. As a result, guarding him and containing him with double teams or by packing the paint would be more difficult.
Edwards' mid-range playmaking
Having another area on the court to attack would open up more opportunities for Edwards as a playmaker. With already improved decision-making abilities, attacking from all areas of the court could be the next step for Edwards as a playmaker. As previously mentioned, attacking the mid-range and making quicker decisions from that area would make it more difficult for Edwards to be double-teamed. This would open up more opportunities for Edwards as a scorer and allow him to make simpler reads as a playmaker.
Like Edwards, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Devin Booker are not necessarily natural playmakers. However, all three of these players are able to maximize their playmaking tools by constantly attacking the mid-range. Undoubtedly, these players should serve as a blueprint for Edwards.
Ultimately, adding a mid-range game could elevate Edwards’ game as both a playmaker and scorer. While it may not result in a massive statistical leap, this could take Edwards’ game to the next level. Improving his mid-range would be especially impactful for the Wolves in playoff settings, and it could help Minnesota reach its Finals aspirations.