IN HIS ROLE as the chief director of USA Basketball, it isn’t typically Grant Hill has a tough time contacting gamers he is contemplating for the staff. Even in non-Olympic years, that is a name nearly each NBA famous person will take or return rapidly.
However, in his makes an attempt to assemble the 2023 FIBA World Cup squad, there was one star Hill could not attain.
“I could not get ahold of Ant,” Hill advised ESPN of the then-21-year-old who has taken the league by storm. “I talked to [Minnesota Timberwolves president] Tim Connelly. I talked to all these individuals round him. However I simply form of obtained the vibes that he was on the fence about it and did not actually know why.”
Anthony Edwards was younger and had little expertise with the FIBA recreation, having participated in a pair of coaching camps, however by no means taking part in for the nationwide staff. Not in one million years did Hill imagine Edwards would possibly really be questioning whether or not he belonged on Staff USA.
“I believe it was the uncertainty of doing one thing outdoors of his norm,” Edwards’ longtime supervisor, Justin Holland, advised ESPN. “He’d by no means been in a foreign country. He’d at all times appreciated to work out by himself within the summers. So it was extra about placing himself into an setting he isn’t all the best way accountable for.”
Such introspection is troublesome to reconcile with the ultra-confident, effervescent younger star who has develop into the face of this season’s playoffs. Nevertheless it’s a mirrored image of simply how far Edwards has are available a 12 months: affected by imposter syndrome to the poster youngster for this new era of NBA superstars.
Simply two weeks in the past, the Timberwolves swept considered one of Edwards’ idols, Kevin Durant, and the Phoenix Suns within the first spherical. The Wolves have pushed the defending champion Denver Nuggets additional than any opponent has in two years — to a Recreation 7 on Sunday (8 p.m. ET on TNT).
Not solely did he develop into, in head coach Steve Kerr’s phrases, “the person” for Staff USA final summer time, he is breathed new life right into a Timberwolves franchise that has toiled in mediocrity and dysfunction since buying and selling Kevin Garnett in 2007.
All through this season, the 22-year-old Edwards has been, regardless of his youth, Minnesota’s unquestioned chief on the courtroom and off, in moments private and non-private, and he has fueled his staff to inside one recreation of its first Western Convention finals look in 20 years.
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IT DIDN’T SEEM like there was a single second throughout Minnesota’s 45-point Recreation 6 win Thursday night time that ESPN’s cameras weren’t skilled on Edwards. From his 11 factors throughout what proved to be a decisive 24-2 run within the first quarter. To his gestures all through the sport, egging the gang on to maintain cheering “Wolves in 7!”
In addition they caught a handful of moments that captured one thing much more delicate — one thing staff insiders and people near Edwards say has not solely cemented the staff’s tradition, however has additionally led to Minnesota’s most wins since 2003-04, when the Wolves made their one and solely look within the Western Convention finals. It is these shows of management, regardless of turning 22 simply 10 months in the past and nonetheless being on his rookie contract.
“I’ve by no means seen a frontrunner who was capable of simply … he acts like he is 30,” Timberwolves heart Naz Reid advised ESPN. “You’d assume he is 30.”
When the Wolves constructed their result in 26-11 with 2:53 remaining within the first quarter of Recreation 6, Edwards bumped into the staff’s huddle throughout a timeout. Karl-Anthony Cities, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels and Reid have been sitting on the bench, wanting up at Edwards. Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gobert have been at his aspect, doing the identical.
“That is what I used to be speaking concerning the different day,” Edwards advised them. “We get a lead and get snug.”
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Holding an NBA playoffs towel and a water bottle in his left hand, he gestured powerfully together with his proper, emphasizing every phrase.
“Hold your foot on the fuel,” he implored.
They usually did. The lead by no means shrunk to fewer than 12 factors, and prolonged to 50 halfway via the fourth quarter.
“Simply the best way he is grown from, I at all times say my second 12 months, his rookie 12 months, simply from the best way he is grown as a basketball participant and that particular person,” Reid mentioned, “It is utterly night time and day.”
Afterward, Edwards, who scored a game-high 27 factors, used his postgame interview to go with Jaden McDaniels for what he mentioned was the staff’s greatest efficiency of the night time.
“This man proper right here,” he mentioned, pointing at McDaniels. “He led us tonight. Everyone on our staff is a frontrunner, and he was a frontrunner tonight. He stepped it up large time.”
McDaniels, who had 21 factors on 8-for-10 capturing, responded in form. “My teammates give me confidence. Ant provides me essentially the most confidence.”
He is not alone.
Within the postgame information convention, Edwards praised Cities for his protection on Nikola Jokic and offered a glimpse into how he is tried to guide the foul-prone Cities.
“He is been guarding him the entire collection. He is been doing an excellent job,” he mentioned. “The primary factor right this moment was his ass stayed out of foul hassle, like I advised him within the Phoenix collection. … I stubborn him out. I stubborn him out each probability I obtained. Cease f—ing fouling. I believe you guys see it. If KAT do not foul, we just about can win the sport, each time. Tonight, he had three fouls. However he solely had three. He did not have 5.
“I advised him right this moment, ‘We’re grateful you did not foul … as a result of should you foul, we lose. You are the very best matchup we’ve for Jokic.'”
These are however a number of of the general public moments, from one singular recreation, which present Edwards guiding his teammates, younger and outdated. However there are lots of extra that occur off digicam, heavy lifting behind the scenes.
Like when he texted his teammates after Recreation 1, saying he did not like the best way he shot the ball and was going to an area faculty to shoot the night time earlier than Recreation 2. Anybody who wished to affix him was welcome, he mentioned. Reid, McDaniels and Alexander-Walker obtained the invitation. Nevertheless it wasn’t precisely non-obligatory.
“That is what you need, proper?” Reid advised ESPN. “To your greatest participant to guide by instance, not phrases? … We’re all tremendous younger, however everyone knows that the sky is the restrict for all of us, particularly him clearly, however he desires to carry us alongside and that is dope.”
EDWARDS HEARD THE chatter — and knew it needed to cease.
When Cities was out for 5 weeks following surgical procedure on his meniscus in March, the Timberwolves went 12-6. Questions started percolating about whether or not the staff may be higher off with out him.
As quickly because the anti-Cities narrative started, Edwards shut down anybody who dared counsel it.
“He is an uplifter,” assistant coach Micah Nori advised ESPN. “Every part he does is to attempt to uplift.”
The 2023-24 common season is full, and the postseason is underway. We’ve every thing you have to observe alongside for one more epic title chase.
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Edwards stayed in shut contact with Cities whereas he was out, ensuring he felt included — and wanted — whereas he was rehabilitating, and publicly celebrated his return.
Cities was touched.
“I’ve at all times strived to be the very best teammate I may probably be,” Cities advised ESPN. “From day one, I’ve made every thing about successful right here in Minnesota, as a lot as individuals have tried to discredit it.
“So to have somebody are available right here and instantly see who I’m as an individual and as a teammate and respect that and by no means diminish it’s humbling.”
Cities has had a protracted, typically irritating historical past because the Wolves drafted him No. 1 total in 2015 and struggled to search out him the suitable co-star. First he was paired with fellow No. 1 total decide Andrew Wiggins. Then there was the soul-crushing Jimmy Butler expertise. And eventually the private palette cleanser together with his shut good friend and former No. 2 total decide, D’Angelo Russell.
None of these pairings labored, which left Cities pissed off and typically forgotten because the Wolves struggled for relevancy in a stacked Western Convention.
When the Wolves drafted Edwards No. 1 in 2020, it was primarily their final probability to get it proper with Cities. It has labored out higher than anybody may have imagined.
“It is led to a friendship and a relationship that I do not assume many individuals get to have,” Cities mentioned. “I do not know many NBA gamers that get to have the form of relationship the place you really know that it is purely love for one another. As a lot as he desires to see me win is extra. I need to see him win much more.”
Hill has watched all this unfold as a broadcaster for TNT, the chief of Staff USA and a up to date of the 2 all-time greats to whom Edwards has began to attract comparisons: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
And with Edwards’ first Recreation 7 on Sunday, he has an opportunity so as to add one other bullet level to an already spectacular résumé.
“He is nonetheless rising,” Hill mentioned. There is no telling how far more he’ll develop.
“The factor that is so spectacular about what Ant is doing is that he is nonetheless so younger. He is already a vocal chief. He is a connector. Folks take heed to him and observe him.
“I am saying this respectfully, however with Kobe, with LeBron, with Steph [Curry], it took them time to embrace that. To evolve. And he is already finished it at such a younger age.”