Coming into the 2021-22 season, my greatest concern in regards to the Timberwolves was how a lot they had been going to be asking of and relying on a literal child who had simply turned 20 years outdated in August. If I had a greenback for each time I typed or mentioned the phrase “progress isn’t linear” to myself or others in an effort to mood expectations for Anthony Edwards, I’d be wealthy sufficient to fund Tim Connelly’s bonus program.

The closing act of his rookie season was so good and so enjoyable, however I nonetheless nearly needed to guard him from unfair expectations and obligations for a child studying easy methods to be a professional.

What I failed to comprehend is that Anthony Edwards is simply constructed for this.

We’ll overview the season in spurts in a second, however the finish result’s only a huge success. In so some ways, Edwards proved that his post-All Star break surge to finish his rookie 12 months was not a mirage. Somewhat, it was simply the earliest indicators of a younger soon-to-be celebrity harnessing his otherworldly bodily items into productive, successful basketball. The child is right here, and he’s right here to remain, no query about it.

After a down, after which up, rookie season that noticed Ant publish a 19/5/3 line on comparatively poor effectivity, with at instances dreadful protection, you possibly can see the makings of a star, however there was nonetheless a lot to be decided about who he would grow to be as a participant. Effectively, Edwards constructed on that after which some. His uncooked stat line wasn’t dramatically totally different (21/5/4), however Ant amassed these numbers in a fashion that was a lot, rather more conducive to successful basketball.

Edwards boosted his capturing numbers from fairly actually each distance, which led to a rise in eFG% from .488 as a rookie (league common was .538) to .527 this 12 months (.523 league common), in addition to growing his TS% from .523 as a rookie (.572 league common) to .560 this season (.566 league common). In brief, Ant improved from a woefully inefficient scorer as a rookie to roughly league common in that regard, which is extremely spectacular when you think about his quantity and problem of shot makes an attempt. He proved that his capturing is actual. He’s a official knockdown shooter that groups can not go away, which is able to solely open up his driving lanes shifting ahead. With minor enhancements in a number of key areas (extra on that later), it stands to motive Edwards can quickly grow to be a 25ppg+ scorer on above common effectivity.

Whereas the season-long numbers paint an overarching image, Edwards season nonetheless was a bit up-and-down due to some components.

He began the 12 months gradual capturing the ball, similar to each different participant on the workforce in addition to Karl-Anthony Cities. October and early November had been ugly from a capturing percentages level, however it was clear from the start that Edwards didn’t come again the identical participant that walked off the courtroom in Minneapolis in Could of 2021. He was greater, stronger, and extra certain of himself, and he advised Stephen Silas precisely what was up within the very first recreation of the season.

The wow moments had been there early, however the consistency was nonetheless lagging a bit behind, as he’d observe up a monster efficiency with a little bit of a dud in lots of circumstances (9 factors on 4-11 after the 48-point outburst, 11 factors on 4-9 after the Warmth recreation). The chilly, bitter elements of the winter is when he actually broke out, highlighted by capital-S Celebrity performances to will the Wolves to victory in Denver (38 factors on 14-21 capturing, 10 made 3s) and in Portland (40 & 9, +14 in a two level win).

It’s inconceivable to know the way a lot the knee contributed to a very tough February capturing the ball (.378/.253/.661) versus simply inconsistent focus over the course of a brutally lengthy season, however no matter it was, it didn’t maintain Ant down for lengthy. In March, whether or not it was well being or only a renewed focus because the stretch run approached, Ant made 43.4% of his threes.

The common season is simply actually lengthy. It’s solely pure for youths to undergo some ups and downs, however it was encouraging that Edwards was capable of get out of his valleys and get again to taking part in successful basketball in comparatively quick order. On the time the common season concluded, the 12 months had unequivocally been a hit for Ant, however there was nonetheless rather more for us to search out out about him with the postseason on the horizon.

Everybody desires to imagine that their star will carry out within the playoffs, however the reality of the matter is you by no means actually know till you see it. The arrogance and bravado of Anthony Edwards certainly hinted at the concept the second wouldn’t be too huge for him, however once more, you simply by no means know. Many NBA stars have gone via some brutal moments of their postseason debuts. The tenacity and stage of play is simply totally different.

Effectively, Edwards closed the door on any of these issues instantly.

The NBA would possibly faux that the stats from Play-In video games are simply washed away into the ocean, however we nonetheless have information of these video games. I do know this as a result of I’ve watched it on League Go 10 time since then. Whereas the Play-In in opposition to the Clippers wasn’t a win-or-go-home affair, the distinction between taking part in Memphis and Phoenix, matchup sensible, was drastic for Minnesota.

With their season in jeopardy, and with Karl-Anthony Cities fairly probably taking part in the worst recreation of his profession, Anthony Edwards grabbed the sport by the horns and, together with D’Angelo Russell, willed the Wolves to a win. It was the whole lot that night time for Edwards. The drives into, over, and across the Clippers for acrobatic layups, the step-back threes, and the ferocious dunk to place a bow on all of it.

He’s right here, man. He’s right here. 30 factors, all of which obligatory within the greatest recreation of the 12 months.

At that second, my questions had been just about answered. He seemed snug in that setting, and he continued to look snug within the Playoffs proper off the bat, beginning with a Celebrity efficiency in Recreation 1 in Memphis. Ant hit robust jumper after robust jumper to pour in 36 factors, making some actually unbelievable pictures. He’s not afraid of the second, he’s constructed for postseason success.

Greater than something this season was a hit as a result of the Wolves know they’ve acquired their man. Edwards is the kind of participant constructed for playoff success, and he’s solely going to get higher. Not each recreation was good, however 25/4/3 on nice effectivity (.604 TS%)? Yeah, that’ll play.

There was a lot to love from Edwards this 12 months, however, like several 20 12 months outdated, he’s nonetheless acquired loads to study.

He made huge strides defensively this 12 months, displaying a capability to be an issue on the ball, and being a menace in passing lanes. Can he carry extra constant focus away from the ball? That’s the subsequent step for him on that finish, at the same time as encouraging as his strides had been this 12 months, which had been genuinely monstrous. Contemplating how badly Ant appears to wish to win, my guess is sure.

The areas that the Wolves will certainly need Edwards to enhance are his playmaking, two-point scoring, and rebounding.

The playmaking and passing is a bit more apparent, because the Wolves would certainly like to have the ability to belief Ant to make higher reads as a passer. Chris Finch spoke at instances about how Edwards was principally restricted to predetermined reads this 12 months, which isn’t dangerous essentially, however it leaves room for progress. Because the Wolves put the ball in his fingers extra typically over the approaching years, with the ability to belief Edwards to make the right reads on the fly will probably be essential.

The rebounding is somewhat bit extra delicate, however it may be a much bigger issue of their workforce success in 2022-23, particularly if D’Angelo Russell isn’t traded. It’s not a secret that this was a brutal defensive rebounding workforce, and whereas the response to that from the general public has been to make the entrance courtroom greater, I don’t assume that’s actually the difficulty. Each Jarred Vanderbilt and Karl-Anthony Cities are good defensive rebounders, albeit in several methods. Cities doesn’t box-out, however he’s large enough the place he’s going to carry down most rebounds which can be in his space. Vando is somewhat totally different in that he’s extra of an out-of-area rebounder, who’s nice at studying angles and flying round to snag rebounds.

The underside-line is that Minnesota’s entrance courtroom actually didn’t carry out at a poor stage on the glass. The place the Wolves might use extra assistance is from Edwards. That’s to not blame him, however he’s a spot to look the place the Wolves might enhance internally on the glass this 12 months. If Edwards goes from a 4 or 5 rebounds per-game man to a six or seven rebounds per-game man, that may go an extended methods. He has the bodily instruments to take action, it will simply requite a extra constant focus and a spotlight to element from Edwards.

The Wolves can even hope for higher outcomes shifting ahead when Edwards goes to the rim, notably relating to drawing fouls. A part of it’s incomes respect from referees, however a part of it is usually on Edwards to embrace contact extra typically, as a substitute of attempting to leap or contort his physique round contact on the rim. A simple manner for Ant to extend his scoring and effectivity subsequent 12 months can be to purpose to shoot 6-7 free throws a recreation subsequent 12 months, versus the 4 a recreation he tried this 12 months. These are simple factors for him that additionally assist defend in opposition to the nights the place his jumper isn’t falling.

So far as persevering with to enhance as a playoff performer, enhancing his in-between recreation will probably be essential. Ant began to shoot higher from the mid-range late within the season, however one factor I’d actually wish to see him add is a floater. He hasn’t displayed a lot contact in that vary but, however being primarily a threes and layups scorer is usually a limiting think about a playoff setting. I’m not campaigning for Edwards to lean closely into the much less environment friendly areas on the ground, however it’s nonetheless essential to have a wide range of instruments at your disposal for once they’re wanted.

I’ve thought loads about who I’d wish to see Ant steal issues from, and some names stick out to me greater than most, beginning with Paul George and Stephen Curry.

Primary for me is Paul George. Edwards may not be 6’10” like PG, however they share plenty of similarities. Edwards has confirmed to be a rattling good shooter, and he has athleticism {that a} youthful Paul George might relate to. Ant has the instruments to grow to be a two-way terror like George, however the place he can study essentially the most from the Clippers wing is how he performs away from the ball.

George is an outstanding instance of how one can be an actual star with out having the ball in your fingers on a regular basis. My one concern for Edwards’ growth can be Minnesota steering right into a heliocentric kind offense round Ant, as a result of that appears to be the way in which the NBA is shifting with the subsequent batch of stars.

In case your participant is sweet sufficient, a heliocentric offensive system is a good way to make sure that your workforce wins plenty of common season video games. There’s nothing flawed with that, however I additionally am not bought that it lends itself to constant postseason success. The one participant that’s actually been capable of play that manner with an abundance of playoff success is LeBron James. If that’s the bar for successful within the playoffs that manner, I’d recommend going one other path.

Ant will take extra on-ball reps offensively as he ages, however it’s going to be essential for Minnesota to maintain making the most of him as a shooter off-ball as effectively. On catch-and-shoot threes this 12 months, Edwards shot 41.3%. He’s a deadly catch-and-shoot participant, and the Wolves can be silly to take that a part of his recreation away. Watching the way in which George strikes with out the ball, and strikes round screens to get himself open would do wonders for Ant’s profession.

Possibly that is all pointless. In any case, he did rating a really environment friendly 25ppg within the postseason this 12 months with out a few of these instruments. I wouldn’t need him to ever steer too far into these shot-types anyhow, however we’re sort of nit-picking relating to his scoring, and these are areas that he might enhance to make himself scheme-proof.

Whereas the comparisons to PG are extra about on-court, tangible affect, I feel any workforce with a younger star proper now can be silly to survey the league and never come to the conclusion they need their man to end up like Stephen Curry. There are issues on the courtroom that solely Steph can do together with his capturing, however he additionally finds a strategy to affect each recreation whether or not his shot is falling or not. I genuinely assume Curry is among the greatest leaders in all of sports activities, if not the perfect. Their personalities usually are not the identical, however there may be a lot that younger gamers can study from the way in which Curry has constructed up his teammates over the course of his profession.

On the finish of the day, these enhancements we’re asking for from Ant are, in a manner, a praise to simply how good he already is. He has surpassed even essentially the most optimistic pre-Draft projections for him via two years moderately simply, and now it’s nearly rounding out his recreation.

A part of this, to me a minimum of, can be nearly the truth that he’s already proven he can and can work to enhance his recreation throughout the offseason. None of this feels unrealistic. Ant advised us he was going to return again for his second season as a knockdown shooter and he did simply that. He advised us he was going to be a greater defender this 12 months, he did simply that. The sky is the restrict for him. He’s acquired the bottom, now it’s about tremendous tuning.

I say it almost each time I write about Ant, however I once more wish to drive house simply how fortunate we’re to have him. He’s perhaps essentially the most pure, charismatic athlete in all of sports activities proper now, and he performs basketball in Minneapolis. Make no mistake, the explosion in ticket gross sales, curiosity, and noise in Goal Middle had as a lot to do with the groups younger, charismatic star because it did the wins being racked up. He made it cool to love the Timberwolves once more. Right here’s to hoping that by no means adjustments, and appreciating Anthony DeVante Edwards, 2022-23 All-Star and All-NBA performer.