The Minnesota Timberwolves' sights are now set on the Phoenix Suns. After finishing the regular season with their second-best in franchise history, 56-26, the postseason poses as the next big challenge for the Wolves.
This season, Minnesota has fired on all cylinders. 22-year-old phenom Anthony Edwards averaged 25.9 points per game and will likely be named to an All-NBA team. French big man Rudy Gobert anchored the best defense in the association and should bring home his fourth Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
Karl-Anthony Towns made the All-Star team and returned from a torn meniscus just in time for the playoffs. Furthermore, Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden McDaniels both played a large part in the squad's impressive season.
Now, before every contributor on the squad is bragged about, we'll revert to Edwards' brilliance. After a quick ascension into stardom, Edwards has seen his popularity grow rather quickly. Despite landing in a smaller market, Edwards was the seventh most-viewed player on social media this past season.
His playstyle and personality have yielded numerous admirers of his game. While the media coverage is appealing to laud, there's not much of a higher honor than Edwards received yesterday.
ESPN Sources: USA Basketball is finalizing its 2024 Paris Olympics roster with Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. Team may initially keep one open spot. pic.twitter.com/kO7TREBVDK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 15, 2024
The former first-overall pick was one of 11 players named to USA Basketball's exclusive roster. Edwards is also the youngest player to be named to the roster—at least two years younger than any of his counterparts.
Despite playing for just four seasons in the association, Edwards has made his mark. A successful individual and team season has now culminated in a spot on the best basketball team in the world.
Team USA begins play on July 28, a month after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. The United States will first play Serbia, who might be led by NBA superstar Nikola Jokic. Then, they'll take on South Sudan on July 31 before a final bout on August 3.
As of now, Edwards will likely come off the bench due to the sheer talent of the squad. Names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry are potentially participating in their final Olympic games.
No matter how much time Edwards spends on the floor, he's sure to add a scoring punch and defensive versatility. Additionally, one wouldn't be surprised to witness Edwards throw down a monster dunk like he does so often or like his predecessors have done in the past.