Timberwolves great anoints ascending guard as midseason MVP

The NBA is officially past the midway point. Although it's typically the All-Star break that signifies the midseason split, every team has now played at least half of their 82-game slate. As for the Timberwolves, they rank first in the Western Conference, with a 30-13 record.

The star trio of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert rank in the top 45 in the association in plus/minus. Add in Mike Conley, who ranks 27th, and the Wolves now have four-fifths of the starting five near the top of the league in plus/minus.

Former first-overall pick Edwards has been superb. He's averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. After dealing with efficiency issues to begin his career, Edwards now ranks in the top half of the NBA in true shooting percentage.

The Timberwolves star is knocking down 46.7 percent of his field goal attempts and 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers. He's evolved into an efficient, multi-dimensional scorer capable of lighting it up from any zone.

Although he may not be receiving the credit he deserves from fans, members of the media and former players have appreciated Edwards' evolution into the best player on the best team. Former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett recently chimed in on Edwards' brilliance.

On the KG Certified podcast, former teammates Paul Pierce and Garnett discussed who they'd crown MVP if the season ended today. Pierce opted for the Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Garnett chose Edwards.

Pierce pointed to the Thunder's sudden ascension as the main reason behind his vote for Gilgeous-Alexander. Additionally, Pierce mentioned the Thunder star's incredible numbers and posied game. He also praised Gilgeous-Alexander's late-game heroics.

The Kentucky product's clutch play should be recognized. He's shooting an incredible 61.5 percent in clutch time and has yet to record a turnover when the lights are brightest.

Following suit, Garnett quickly praised Edwards' closing abilities. Although Edwards' clutch stats don't match up with Gilgeous-Alexander's, he's still a valuable asset with the game on the line. The Wolves star leads the team in clutch points per game at 3.0 and shoots 50.0 percent from the field.

Moreover, Garnett praised Edwards' all-around game and linked Edwards' growth to the team's improvement. With Towns as the focal point, Minnesota never crossed the 50-win threshold. But this season, the Wolves are on pace to clear 50 wins. It's even likely the Timberwolves win 60 games for the first time in franchise history.

Edwards has been playing fantastic, and he's crucial to the team's success. Without the star guard, the Timberwolves are 2-2 and coming off a loss against the 10-31 Charlotte Hornets.

For more Edwards and Timberwolves content, be sure to stay tuned, as the trade deadline and the All-Star festivities are on the horizon.