With the NBA season beginning in just a few weeks, there’s no shortage of Timberwolves storylines to follow.
How much growth will Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid show? Can Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle develop a stronger offensive rhythm with more time together? Will Rudy Gobert maintain his elite defensive level despite getting older? And what contributions can the young trio of Rob Dillingham, Jaylen Clark, and Terrence Shannon Jr. provide?
All of these questions will begin to be answered in the coming months.
But ultimately, the Wolves’ fortunes rise and fall with Anthony Edwards. Entering his age-24 season—his sixth in the NBA—Edwards has become the face of the franchise, powering Minnesota to back-to-back Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history.
His charisma, energy, and on-court brilliance have elevated the Timberwolves to the national stage. This year, the Wolves will appear in 28 nationally televised games, tied for the fifth-most in the league.
Now comes the next step, a legitimate run at MVP.
The MVP Gameplan
- Team Success
The MVP almost always comes from a contender. Edwards will need the Timberwolves to finish as one of the top two or three seeds in the West to have a real shot. Despite four straight playoff appearances, Minnesota hasn’t cracked the top two in that stretch.
- Production
Edwards has increased his scoring every season, topping out at 27.6 points per game last year. To be in the thick of the MVP race, he’ll likely need to push that closer to 30 while nudging his rebounds and assists toward the six-per-game mark. Efficiency will matter too, particularly from three and in the midrange.
- The Supporting Cast
Even for an MVP, teammates matter. Minnesota is running it back with essentially the same roster, a stability that should lead to better chemistry and a faster start than last year’s rocky opening stretch.
If McDaniels and Reid can provide more consistent offense and one of the young players— Dillingham, Clark, or Shannon— emerges as a reliable contributor, Edwards’ workload becomes more manageable. Less burden often means more impact.
- Offseason Work
Edwards has said he put in major work this summer and reports back it. He focused on tightening his handle, improving his catch-and-shoot game, and studying film of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to refine his midrange and post play. If those skills translate, Edwards’ scoring versatility could jump to another level.
If Edwards hits all these marks— team success, statistical growth, improved chemistry, and a polished offensive toolkit— he’ll be squarely in the MVP mix. And if he’s in the MVP conversation, that almost certainly means the Timberwolves will be in the Finals conversation too.
Only time will tell, but the stage is set. Anthony Edwards has never been closer to leaping from rising star to league MVP.
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