It’s not every day a team stumbles upon a generational talent, especially the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, that’s exactly what Minnesota has in 21-year-old Anthony Edwards. Coming out of college, some questioned Edwards’ work ethic and desire to become great in the NBA. Those rumors were quickly put to bed as Ant’s skillset and charisma quickly emerged at the next level.
On Monday afternoon, Edwards agreed to a five-year designated rookie maximum deal with the Timberwolves. Currently, Ant’s extension is worth $207 million. However, if he makes an All-NBA team at any point during the contract, the dollar amount will jump to the $260 million you’ve seen plastered on your social media feed.
“I’m humbled, appreciative, and excited to remain in Minnesota as part of this incredible Timberwolves organization,” Edwards said in a statement. “It’s amazing to see where hard work can take you.”
We look at NBA contracts and just say, Gee, must be nice. Nowadays, young adults earning a salary of $45 million or more is commonplace in pro sports. However, the contract and life-changing money mean so much more than basketball. And in Edwards’ case, you can’t put a price tag on what he brings to the game of basketball and the city of Minneapolis as a whole.
Upside is one of the driving factors in building a contending team in pro sports. Look at Victor Wembanyama, for example. He’s a 7’5” 19-year-old from France who is making headlines on major news channels in the United States for his basketball skills. Sure, he looks incredible overseas. However, there is always the possibility he doesn’t become an impact player in the NBA. Of course, I’m not trying to demote Victor at all – he looks to be one of the most fun players of the future. However, that’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. We’ve yet to see the guy step foot on an NBA floor. Still, some San Antonio Spurs fans are already planning their future Championship parade.
However, Edwards has already proven he’s a star in the NBA and still has much more room to grow. Edwards is responsible for the Timberwolves’ success as a young player, but he’s risen to the challenge.
Through his first three seasons in the NBA, Ant has averaged just over 20 points per game on 44.1% from the floor and 35.2% from three. He’s had success in the regular season, so much so that he was named to his first All-Star game last season. However, players define their legacies in the playoffs define their legacies. And in Ant’s case, he has already worked towards cementing that legacy in the Twin Cities and the NBA as a whole.
In his first career playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Edwards averaged 25 points. He averaged 31 points in five games against the Denver Nuggets this year and scored 36 in Game 1. There wasn’t much pressure on Edwards to lead his team through his first playoff series. However, I’m sure he would tell you differently.
Edwards’ pure basketball talent on a game-to-game bias is exceptional. However, his ability to lead a team goes much further than basketball – the guy just has it. What’s it? Well, it is something that guys like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Micheal Jordan possessed. You know, the all-time greats. When Wolves faithful pack the seats at Target Center, the amount of No. 1 jerseys stands out. In just three years, Ant has already taken this organization by its horns.
He’s always ready for the big moment. The future is bright for him, and his future is in Minnesota.
