Entering the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are a legitimate title contender, boasting one of the deepest and youngest teams in the league. The only thing that has really held them back is the inexperience of their star players, who will need to continue to improve their skillsets. Anthony Edwards, in particular, is the best player on Minnesota’s roster. If he wants to take them to the next level, he needs to use the rest of this offseason and the upcoming season to level up his skillset.
How Anthony Edwards Can Level Up His Game
Become a Knockdown Three-Point Shooter
Edwards is one of the most dynamic players in the NBA. He is a walking highlight reel who puts opposing players on posters. However, one of the biggest weaknesses in his game is that he does not hit three-pointers at a consistent rate. Last season, he made 35.7% of his three-point attempts. Edwards will need to increase that percentage to at least 40%. That will give opposing teams something to think about when developing a defensive scheme to stop him.
Additionally, improving his three-point shooting prowess should provide him and his teammates with more high-percentage shooting opportunities. Those increased scoring opportunities should make the Timberwolves one of the best offensive teams in the league.
Improving His Playmaking Skills
Over the summer, Edwards was the sixth man for the United States men’s basketball team during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Edwards was one of the key players who led Team USA to another gold medal. He accepted his role and used his scoring abilities and defensive prowess to lead an explosive bench unit.
During this upcoming season, if Edwards is able to bring that player from the summer to Minnesota, the Timberwolves will contend for a title in the western conference this season. For that to happen, Edwards will need to improve as a playmaker. Last season, he averaged a career-high 5.1 assists per game. Edwards must become more of a facilitator for the Timberwolves by increasing his assists totals to at least six-seven per night this season.
The Timberwolves need more facilitators on their roster. If Edwards can improve his passing skills and add that to his game, Minnesota will be a team that is hard to plan for this season.
Continue Developing A Killer Instinct
Edwards is only 23-years old and will continue to grow as an NBA player. The next step for him will be developing a killer instinct, ssomething all championship-winning superstars develop.
Developing a killer instinct does not always require doing something that shows up in the box score. It can also be taking a tough defensive assignment and shutting that player down to help his team win. Or making an extra pass to create a high percentage shooting opportunity for a teammate. Making a commitment to doing those things could go a long way to establishing Edwards as even more of a leader in Minnesota’s locker room. If he can develop one before he enters his prime years in the NBA, not only will he dominate the league for years to come, but the Timberwolves will be able to win multiple championships.
Edwards implementing these things into his game should help him level up his skillset this season, and take the Timberwolves to the next level.
