Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul recently spoke on Anthony Edwards, and the praise he heaped on the Minnesota Timberwolves' franchise player will be pleasing to the ears of the fanbase.
"In terms of the star players that you're asking to score 30 every night, very few of them are going to score 30 every night, and play defense," Paul said. "This is what makes Ant so ridiculous."
Paul was right to recognize the two-way greatness of Edwards. Plenty of the top players in the association have the ability to go get you 30 on any given night, but not many of them are ceiling-raisers on the defensive end as well.
The majority of guys who are offensive flamethrowers are simply contributors on the defensive end, not game-changers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is certainly a strong defensive player, but he's the exception rather than the rule. And as for Victor Wembanyama, he's not a "get you 30 every single night" type of player on offense just yet. That leads us back to Edwards, who excels at both ends every night.
Anthony Edwards is a true two-way superstar
What separates Edwards in Minnesota is how his two-way commitment shows up within a real team identity. The Timberwolves are built around length and physicality, and Edwards is not cut off from that responsibility just because he's the offensive engine. He sets the tone at the point of attack and takes pride in guarding top wings whenever he needs to. That often serves to set the tone for the rest of the roster.
And it's not surprising that a team is sometimes going to go as their best player goes. The Timberwolves have several strong individual defenders, but Edwards’ buy in is what makes the scheme cohesive. When your best player is willing to play at a high level defensively, it changes the team's entire complexion. That has been a defining trait of Minnesota’s success this decade.
Chris Finch knows the kind of talent he has on his hands. Edwards is empowered offensively, but he steps into that defensive role on his own, taking pride in his defense. That's helped him mature into a true franchise centerpiece rather than just a highlight-driven scorer. Edwards' growth has come from pushing himself daily and trying to become the best version of himself possible.
Rich Paul’s comments land because they align with what Timberwolves fans see nightly. Edwards isn't a guy looking to chase stats, he's trying to win and do whatever that takes. In an era where two-way dominance is increasingly rare, Minnesota has one of the few stars who still treats both ends as non-negotiable.