Kendrick Perkins Sends Strong Message About Anthony Edwards' Leadership

Since getting selected first overall in the 2020 Draft, Anthony Edwards has been a prominent player for the Timberwolves. Ant has gone from a promising player to a bonafide superstar in five years.

Throughout his career, Edwards has always been a big voice for the Timberwolves. This season, he has taken that to the next level with his leadership, which has translated well onto the court. People are seeing that his teammates rely on him as a leader.

Perk Believes Edwards Has Kept Growing As The Timberwolves' Leader

During Game 2 of the series between the Timberwolves and Warriors, it was clear that Minnesota wanted to redeem themselves after a horrible Game 1 performance. The team moved better and played with a lot more energy.

Edwards was the catalyst for that because he was aggressive from the jump. At the same time, he was vocal to his teammates, which helped them play even better. Ant had an injury scare in the second quarter, but his return to the game spurred the rest of the team to perform.

This did not go unnoticed because former NBA champion and prominent ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins gave Ant his flowers.

"He's the best young leader in the game. I've been saying it all year long, and I said it last season. He's setting the tone not only with his scoring, but he's setting the tone in how to play basketball the right way. Agenda-free basketball," Perkins said on NBA Today. "He's basically running the point guard position. Shout out to Coach Finch and the Minnesota Timberwolves because this started at the beginning of the season, he's been the primary ball-handler all season long."

The Timberwolves Are A Scary Matchup

The Timberwolves might have had a shaky Game 1, but they are back to their peak form. Coach Chris Finch wants the team to remain energetic, which could lead to them getting more wins. 

Julius Randle has been spectacular in the Playoffs. Jaden McDaniels has kept developing in this postseason run, providing the Timberwolves another option on offense while remaining elite on defense.

Overall, the Timberwolves are much better than early in the season. This growth is a sign of good locker room leadership, which the team has with Edwards supported by veterans like Mike Conley Jr. and Joe Ingles.