{"id":204474,"date":"2026-07-09T11:49:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=204474"},"modified":"2026-07-09T11:49:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:49:06","slug":"anthony-edwards-hurdle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/09\/anthony-edwards-hurdle\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Anthony Edwards Clear His Last Hurdle to Win NBA MVP?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anthony Edwards<\/span><\/a> had the best offensive season of his career, but he still missed out on the biggest individual awards in the league. This unexpected outcome changed how people view Minnesota’s star player.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, the focus is not just on his talent but also on his availability and his team’s success, which often distinguishes great players from the very best in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can Anthony Edwards Clear His Last Hurdle to Win NBA MVP?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Anthony Edwards Reached New Level<\/span><\/h3>\n

Anthony Edwards started last season looking to improve again after making the All-NBA Second Team for two years in a row. He achieved career highs in several areas, averaging 28.8 points and shooting 48.9 percent from the field. He also earned the MVP award at the All-Star Game. These impressive numbers typically put a player in the All-NBA conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The season had a different outcome because Edwards played in only 61 games. The NBA’s rules say that players must have appeared in at least 65 games to be eligible for most major awards, unless they have a special reason to appeal. Edwards contested this decision, but an independent arbitrator rejected his appeal.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

The Rule Carried Real Cost<\/span><\/h3>\n

Missing All-NBA recognition had more effect than just beyond awards. Under the current labor agreement, eligibility for awards also affects many players’ contract options. Edwards reportedly missed the chance to qualify for a supermax extension this offseason because he didn’t meet the games requirement.<\/span><\/p>\n

The outcome highlighted the NBA’s focus on player availability. Since the league introduced the 65-game rule, it has aimed to reduce player absences and reward stars who play throughout the regular season. Edwards became a key example of how this policy affects players.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minnesota Changed The Formula<\/span><\/h3>\n

Minnesota did not ask Edwards to take on more responsibility. Instead, the team made roster changes to support him after trying to solve Edwards’ <\/span>biggest problem<\/span><\/a>. Adding <\/span>LaMelo Ball<\/span><\/a> gives the Timberwolves another player who can handle the ball and create scoring opportunities before defenses can focus on Edwards.<\/span><\/p>\n

This change could be as important as any single improvement. Edwards has often been Minnesota’s top scorer and a key player in late-game situations. If he works well with a playmaking guard, it can help reduce tough possessions and cut down on physical strain. This partnership can also create better scoring opportunities throughout the long 82-game season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minnesota is making roster changes to <\/span>build around Edwards<\/span><\/a> and maximize his strengths. Instead of just adding more scorers, the team aims for a balanced offense. This approach can help save energy during the regular season and improve performance in the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Team Success Still Defines Stardom<\/span><\/h3>\n

Individual performance often doesn\u2019t resolve discussions about the league’s top stars. <\/span>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/span><\/a> combined top-notch scoring with a 64-win season and another MVP run. <\/span>Victor Wembanyama<\/span><\/a> helped San Antonio defeat Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals. These achievements supported arguments that go beyond just statistics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards has shown he is one of the best offensive players in basketball. His next challenge is to keep producing at a high level while staying healthy and helping Minnesota solve its <\/span>biggest problem<\/span><\/a> as it advances deeper into the playoffs. This is what makes players memorable as leaders in their era.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards Controls The Next Step<\/span><\/h3>\n

Few players in their seventh NBA season have Anthony Edwards’ scoring skills, athletic ability, and ongoing improvement. His consistent growth each year indicates he can take another big step forward, especially if he stays healthy enough to play the whole season.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next important step may not require him to score thirty points every game. Instead, playing at least 65 games, staying healthy through the spring, and helping the Timberwolves make a deep playoff run would matter more than increasing his scoring. If he can achieve these goals, it will be harder to argue against Edwards being among the best in the NBA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Jesse\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Johnson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Anthony Edwards had the best offensive season of his career, but he still missed out on the biggest individual awards in the league. This unexpected outcome changed how people view Minnesota’s star player. Now, the focus is not just on his talent but also on his availability and his team’s success, which often distinguishes great […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5867,"featured_media":204477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,21,62,3],"tags":[2109,823],"class_list":["post-204474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-timberwolves","category-nba","category-news","tag-anthony-edwards","tag-lamelo-ball"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5867"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204474"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204478,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204474\/revisions\/204478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}