Three-time NBA champion has bold double prediction for Timberwolves in 2025

The Minnesota Timberwolves captured the attention of the entire NBA this past season. Their dominating defensive efforts and the star power of Anthony Edwards were signals that this team was a legitimate threat in the Western Conference and will be for years to come.

It is a long time coming for a team that has so seldom experienced real success over the course of the last two decades. Since Kevin Garnett left Minnesota in 2007, the Wolves went on a long streak of trying to find their way before arriving in the present day, where they find themselves as maybe a bigger threat to win a title than ever before.

As time goes on and the effects of the 2023-24 Timberwolves become more apparent, it is clear that they made believers out of a lot of former doubters. Many are now hopping on Minnesota's bandwagon and are high on them and their chances of winning a championship.

You can count three-time NBA champion Udonis Haslem as one of those people. Appearing on ESPN's First Take on Thursday, UD had some big words in talking about the Timberwolves, heaping large amounts of praise on Anthony Edwards.

Udonis Haslem stands by the Anthony Edwards-Michael Jordan comparison

In discussing next NBA season, Haslem stated that he believes the Timberwolves will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals in 2025. In justifying his take, Udonis explained that he believes the (admittedly overly ambitious) comparisons between Anthony Edwards and Michael Jordan are still valid.

When asked if he thought the narrative surrounding that comparison should be the same after Minnesota's playoff defeat to the Mavericks, Udonis doubled down. "Yes, definitely," said the three-time champion with the Miami Heat. "[Edwards] is still young too, and he still has time, I still think he has time to grow."

While the juxtaposition between Ant and the player many consider to the greatest of all time may still feel a bit premature, it is interesting to see so many national media members have a newfound belief in Minnesota. This has to feel like a completely foreign concept for Wolves fans who grew up watching this team fall short time and time again.

It is moments like this that only continue growing the hype for next season, and further cement the belief that the Timberwolves are here to stay in a jam-packed Western Conference.