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Anthony Edwards ‘can lead T’Wolves to NBA title’, per ESPN analyst

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 3:07 PM ET

He took Minnesota on a nice playoff run in his fifth season, but is Anthony Edwards next in line to lead his squad to an NBA Championship?

Seven different teams have captured a Larry O’Brien Trophy since 2019.

Milwaukee got it with Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2020-21 with the “Greek Freak” in his prime. Denver snatched one in 2022-23 with a talented big man in Nikola Jokic, while the tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown delivered a NBA title back to Boston in 2023-24. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the latest star with a championship, leading Oklahoma City to the title this year.

Edwards, a three-time All-Star, bounced LeBron James and Stephen Curry out the playoffs before running into SGA. He averaged 27.6 points per game in the regular season, but Edwards had incredible moments in the playoffs.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst sees the 23-year-old as the next player to win a championship.

Windhorst said the Timberwolves are built the right way.

.@WindhorstESPN believes Ant-Man can lead the Wolves to an NBA championship pic.twitter.com/wR4SORpfYN

— First Take (@FirstTake) June 27, 2025

“The Timberwolves are set up to continue to be really competitive,” Windhorst said. “I think Ant [Anthony Edwards] is still getting better. I think his game and his leadership is getting better. The Timberwolves have taken some steps to keep their team competitive. I think that team is very strong and while I look at the Thunder and say ‘that is a very difficult team to overcome,’ I have repeatedly been able to see Ant be a leader in a postseason setting. I think Ant can get it done.”

Minnesota has to keep Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from leaving in free agency.

If the T’Wolves can re-sign all three or at least two, Edwards would have the guys around him to get it done.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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