NBA Notes: Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Rockets, Amen Thompson, Knicks

Timberwolves

Chris Finch doesn’t need much time to explain what he wants from Anthony Edwards this season. It starts on defense.

“Easy, he’s got to bring his defense back to the level it was two years ago, for sure. And, you know, he’s committed to doing that,” Finch told WCCO’s Chad Hartman, via Charlie Walton of Wolves on SI.

LaMelo Ball’s arrival should help. Edwards won’t have to create so much of the offense, potentially leaving him more energy to spend at the other end. Finch also wants Edwards to benefit from someone else doing the setup work.

“We’ve got to try to get him some easier shots,” Finch said. “And for that to happen, he’s got to let the game come to him a bit.”

There’s a good reason to try it. Edwards shot 47.8 percent on catch-and-shoot threes last season, though he attempted just 138.

“For a guy who is so aggressive and such a scorer, sometimes that is an inner battle he fights, too, because he wants to go out and make everything happen for himself or his team,” Finch said. “But now we get a chance to employ him off the ball.”

Rockets

Amen Thompson has his new contract. His list of basketball goals still needs some work.

“I want to get back on the All-Defensive team. I didn’t make it last year,” Thompson told ESPN’s Malika Andrews, via Eric Jay Santos of Rockets on SI. “I want to help Houston get a championship. I want to be the best player that I can be.”

Thompson earned first-team All-Defensive honors in 2025 but missed out last season, despite finishing in the top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

He otherwise continued to progress, averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 79 games. The Rockets rewarded him with a five-year, $208 million extension earlier this month.

Thompson has yet to make an All-Star team. But at 23, he has already given the Rockets plenty of reasons to believe that could be coming. Getting back among the league’s top defenders would help their cause, too.

Knicks

Sometimes, coaching means getting everyone in a room and letting them talk. According to Rick Brunson, Mike Brown knew exactly when the Knicks needed it.

Brunson said on the Locked on Knicks Squad Show that Brown met individually with all five starters late last season and asked for their complaints. Then he brought them together to discuss what each had said.

“Obviously it was all basketball, like, ‘I can do this or you do this too much or you don’t do this enough,’” Brunson said. “And they actually talked to each other and understood each other.”

Brunson believes that conversation helped change the direction of a team that went on to win the championship.

“And I swear that was the moment where we took off. I really believe that,” he said.

Even a 2-1 first-round deficit against the Hawks didn’t shake that belief. The Knicks later won 13 consecutive playoff games.

“I would say Mike don’t get enough credit,” Brunson said. “Mike was tremendous.”