Minnesota Timberwolves fans knew from the start that they had something special in Anthony Edwards. His incredible natural talent combined with an infectious personality made him the perfect candidate to grow into the Timberwolves' next franchise player.
Over the course of the last four years, that is exactly what he has become. Ant has taken the NBA by storm in becoming one of the league's best players, and propelling Minnesota to the level of a legitimate championship contender, something they had not been able to claim for nearly 20 years.
But while some are shocked at Edwards' rise to stardom, others saw it coming all along. You can count former Timberwolf Taurean Prince as one of those people. Recently appearing on Tidal League's Run Your Race podcast hosted by Theo Pinson, Prince discussed his early impressions of Ant.
When Pinson asked Prince if he always knew Edwards would be this good, Taurean reassured him that he did. "Ant's best talent is he's coachable," said Prince. "So once I saw that in him ... It's a different ballgame when somebody that talented listens, and don't think they've got it all figured out."
Prince: Edwards' best talent is coachability
Being willing and open to accept coaching is certainly a trait of some of the best players in the world, and the fact that Edwards embraced that from the start has to be part of why he his game has grown the way it has. Prince also commended Ant's work ethic during the interview.
"In the gym always," Taurean said. "Whether it's shootaround day, last one in the gym, whether it's practice day, last one in the gym. Been working on the back to the basket stuff, bank shots, he's just now pulling it out this season. Little things like that, it's just crazy to see from afar, knowing what he was doing on the daily."
Prince made sure to touch on Edwards' unreal confidence as well. "The series against Denver," said Taurean. "My last year there, and I think we lost the first two. And I forgot who said it, it's like 'we should try this or that,' Ant said, 'man, just give me the ball.'"
The Twin Cities have become accustomed to these kind of stories over the last four seasons, and Edwards' persona never fails to put a smile on the faces of Wolves fans. But as Prince explains, it is Ant's coachability that continues to separate him from his peers.