After witnessing Anthony Edwards' late-game heroics on Thursday, a Timberwolves security guard went viral on X for what he told ESPN's Hanif Abdurraqib. In the eyes of this target Center employee and many Minnesota sports fans around the country, Edwards is a special kind of player and one of the rarest superstars you'll ever see.
"You win championships with a guy like that," the security guard said. "I've seen a lot of NBA guys up close, and not everyone has it, you know? He's just got it. He's not afraid of anything. He's not afraid of anyone in front of him. You win championships with those kinds of guys. You get banners up there with those kinds of guys," he says, pointing to the largely barren rafters inside the arena."
While a security officer may not be who most fans go to for basketball advice, he's had a front-row seat to countless Wolves games and he's gotten to see many co-called superstars up close and personal.
From Kevin Garnett to Kevin Love and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves have had plenty of stars pass through their franchise over the years. It wasn't until Edwards, though, that the situation started to change in Minnesota.
With averages of 26.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 46.7% shooting, Edwards has blossomed into a true superstar this season, and he has the chance to become something more if he can maintain this play into the spring and lead the Timberwolves on a long playoff run.
Whatever the case, it's clear that there is a lot of confidence in Edwards' potential and in how far he can take a Timberwolves team that has never been there before.
Can The Timberwolves Break Their Playoff Curse?
As good as Edwards and the Wolves have been this season, there is still significant doubt in their potential to win the West. Between Towns, Edwards, and Rudy Gobert, Minnesota obviously has enough talent to win the title but it remains to be seen if they have enough experience, chemistry, and cohesion to keep their composure when the pressure is up.
Historically, the Timberwolves have done nothing to instill confidence in their playoff odds. With an all-time postseason record of 21-42, they have been non-factors in the postseason and have often struggled to even get that far.
Recently, their fortunes have begun to turn around. With the arrival of Karl-Anthony Towns, they found a budding star that became their first building block. Eventually, they picked up Antony Edwards and his ascension so far has raised the Timberwolves' ceiling to brand-new heights in the West. There's also the defensive presence of Rudy Gobert, who is making a case to win his third Defensive Player of the Year award.
In short, There are no more excuses for the Timberwolves this year, and the buck ultimately stops with Edwards on how far they will go in the postseason. if he can live up to his potential, and be the leader that fans believe he can be, the future is undeniably bright for this franchise. By now, most fans are catching on to Edwards' rising potential but he still has more to prove if he wants to be ranked among the best of the best and this year will give him his best chance to put everyone on notice.
More must-reads: