Anthony Edwards is already one of the most electrifying guards in the NBA. Edwards is 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. His solid positional size, elite athleticism, and skill set make Edwards such an exceptional talent. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Georgia and has done everything to showcase his value so far in his young NBA career, now entering his fourth season.
Edwards most recently gained valuable experience playing for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. He became consistently relied on as a go-to scorer for Team USA and will look to continue the momentum heading into the next NBA season.
Top 25 NBA Players Under 25: No. 3 – Anthony Edwards
Last season was the best of his short NBA career so far. He averaged 24.6 points, 4.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He was efficient as a guard, too, recording 46/37/76 shooting splits. The Timberwolves guard had a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists.
As a result, he was awarded his first NBA All-Star appearance. It should be the first of many for the up-and-coming guard, who is only 22 years old.
Well-Rounded Skill Set
Edwards’ skill set goes beyond that of a traditional NBA shooting guard. He’s an elite scorer, but his game expands far beyond just scoring. Edwards contributes to winning in multiple aspects and is a versatile guard. His well-rounded statistical output evidences his versatility.
The Timberwolves guard averages nearly five assists and rebounds per game, both of which are not typical for a shooting guard. Shooting guards are usually relied on to be floor spacers that don’t necessarily contribute a ton outside of that. The rare exception is Edwards.
“Ant-man” is an improved shooter, but that has never been his elite or notable skill set. He’s simply a scorer who can score in multiple aspects, whether in transition, isolation, cutting, pick-and-rolls, or other offensive systems.
Edwards’ Fit in Minnesota
Edwards finds creative ways to create offense both for himself and others, even though, at times, it could be more difficult due to Minnesota’s roster construction. They have essentially two starting centers, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. Towns is one of the league’s best shooters as a big man. Regardless, it makes it even more difficult for Edwards to have space for driving lanes and to make plays.
Area of Improvement
As with many young guards in the NBA, one aspect of Edwards’ game he can improve on heading into the 2023-24 season is his turnovers and, at times, forced passes. The Timberwolves guard had a career-high 3.3 turnovers per game last season. Part of the increase in turnovers could also be due to the previously mentioned floor spacing issue with Towns and Gobert in the starting lineup. Regardless, Edwards needs to cut down on his turnovers and maximize Minnesota’s offensive possessions. A 1.3 assist-to-turnover ratio needs to be improved for someone who should be consistently in the All-Star conversations.
Especially as Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, who is 35, continues to age, Minnesota could be relying on Edwards to take on the lead distributor and playmaking role as he progresses in his development. A big part of becoming that combo guard will be to limit his turnovers and improve his decision-making.
Still, Anthony Edwards is one of the league’s most well-rounded guards and a franchise building block for the Timberwolves. He should have multiple All-Star appearances in his future.
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