Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) during the first half in game five of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

'I Love His Swagger' – Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards Has the Mamba Mentality, Per Former NBA Star

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 10:52 AM ET

Pau Gasol challenges Anthony Edwards to be more consistent if the Minnesota Timberwolves plan to break through this upcoming season. The Hall of Famer revealed that Edwards wants to be the best player in the NBA, similar to his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Kobe Bryant.

“When I talked to (Ant) actually, a couple of years ago in the world championship in Manila, he said he followed Kobe (Bryant) and he admired Kobe and the Mamba Mentality, he has the desire to be the best,” Gasol said on NBA Today. “He’s still very young. But he’s also getting into the next step and stage of his career, where he has to prove a little more and give a little more at all levels. Not just scoring, but let’s do a little more on the defensive end.

“Let’s do a little more in leading, challenging, and holding teammates accountable and getting the best out of them on a daily basis in practice, at games, all across. So, that’s what I’m expecting. That’s what I want to see out of him,” he concluded.

Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

With Edwards leading the way, the Minnesota Timberwolves made it to consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances, but lost to the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Minnesota Timberwolves insider reveals Anthony Edwards’ motivation ahead of 2025-26

Anthony Edwards is a man on a mission after yet another painful playoff exit, and Minnesota Timberwolves insider Jon Krawczynski revealed that the three-time NBA All-Star has gone off the grid this summer.

Feb 23, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles the ball past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

“He has been off the social media grid and working on his game. He hasn’t had any international play this summer for the first time in a couple of years, which I think has allowed him to buckle down,” Krawczynski said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“He was pretty forthright after the loss to the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals that he’s still got a big step to make to get to the level of a Shai, or a Luka. I think he still came into the summer believing it was a little too easy to take him away from the game,” he added.