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PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 24: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the second quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on February 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Timberwolves have made the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons. In each of those seasons, the team was not expected to advance that far in the postseason. Yet, Anthony Edwards willed his team to that spot.

This season, the Wolves are hoping to take that final step to the NBA Finals. Edwards has the best offensive season of his young career. He finished the year averaging 28.8 points while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

Edwards can’t wait for the playoffs. He insinuated that the Timberwolves may have coasted in the last month of the regular season because they got a bit bored.

Anthony Edwards Insinuates the Minnesota Timberwolves Didn’t Care About the Regular Season

When asked about a quote he had in December about the Wolves “waiting around for the playoffs,” Edwards confirmed the accuracy of that statement.

“I mean, yeah, it felt like that at times, like we was just trying to get through the season to get to the playoffs. But we here now, and all the other excuses are out the window. So it’s time.”

The way the Timberwolves finished the regular season made it seem as though they were coasting. Over the final 10 games of the season, Minnesota finished just 5-5. That apathy is part of the reason that they slid down to sixth in the Western Conference standings.

Had Minnesota put forth a bit more effort, there is a chance they would have been able to finish either fourth or fifth in the West. As it is, they will have to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota beat Denver in seven games last season in the second round.

Anthony Edwards Feels Pressure to Elevate the Timberwolves

While Edwards had his best offensive season, he only played 59 games. That means he isn’t eligible for regular-season awards. He cares more about winning in the postseason than he does about awards, so that’s all that matters to him. That’s why he is putting pressure on himself.

Over the course of the regular season, Minnesota had just the 13th-rated offense in the league. Part of that was because of the various injuries that Edwards was dealing with. With Edwards healthy heading into the postseason, he is hoping to get that number up.

Defensively, the Wolves were as good as anyone in the NBA. They finished the year eighth in the league on that side of the ball. Minnesota will have to lean on that side of the ball in order to advance in the first round against a Nuggets team that has the best offense in the league.

If the Timberwolves are going to advance to the NBA Finals this year, they will need Edwards to go up a level in the postseason.