The Minnesota Timberwolves are putting Anthony Edwards in the best possible position right now, giving him his best shot at accomplishing his longtime wish: To be the MVP. Edwards has taken Minnesota to two straight Conference Finals appearances, but now, he’ll have to do more work than ever to get them back there. But that could help his MVP case, as his stats could take yet another leap next season.
“I’m trying to be MVP,” Edwards told Mark Medina of NBA.com when asked about LaMelo Ball winning Rookie of the Year. “I’m not really worried about Rookie of the Year.”
Edwards might have his best chance yet to win MVP next year.
How could Anthony Edwards win MVP?
Based on the way the last two seasons have gone, it’s no secret that Edwards and the Timberwolves are one of the biggest threats in the West. Winning is a prerequisite for winning NBA Awards, and the Wolves have done so consistently.
With Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and most of the rest of their core coming back, the Wolves should be primed to be a top contender yet again next season. But they also lost an important piece.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker joined the Atlanta Hawks this summer, taking away one of the Wolves’ top bench scorers. Guys like Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Rob Dillingham will have larger roles, but some of the burden will be on Edwards to score more, too.
Edwards has taken massive leaps every year of his career. He’s improved as a defender, playmaker, and most recently, a three-point shooter, becoming one of the best long-range scorers in the NBA.
Next year, he could take another. He averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game last season, and if his trend of improving his scoring totals every year continues, that could inch closer to 30.
If he can help the Wolves be a top seed in the stacked Western Conference again, where squads like the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and now-Kevin Durant-led Houston Rockets are holding court, the MVP trophy could be within his grasp.
For his entire career, Edwards has wanted to be one of the best players in the NBA. No, the best player in the NBA. Since his rookie season, he’s had his sights set on the MVP award.
And with how well things have been going, paired with what could be another scoring increase next year, the Wolves are setting him up to reach that goal.