Anthony Edwards was so close to taking the Minnesota Timberwolves to the NBA Finals. Although many would look at the Western Conference Finals and see this as the Dallas Mavericks handling business with a 4-1 series win, that was not the case whatsoever. Edwards made sure that the Timberwolves were in virtually every game of this series, with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Unfortunately for them, avoiding a sweep while trailing the Mavs 3-0 left them with little in the tank for their Game 5 matchup in Minnesota, a game that Dallas dominated from start to finish on Thursday night.
The Timberwolves now enter the offseason, coming up just short of their ultimate goal, but they have no reason not to hang their heads high. This group has put the organization back on the map in the Western Conference, uncharted territory for a franchise that won its first playoff series since the last time they were in the conference finals during the 2003-04 season. Only then, it was Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell leading the way for Minnesota. Interestingly enough, both times that the Timberwolves have finished the regular season with at least 56 wins, they have advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
In Edwards' case, the 2023-24 season provided him with the blueprints to become one of the next faces of the NBA. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry are nearing the end of their careers, and the next generation of stars has already begun to take shape. Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum. These are just a few of the younger players that have begun to cement themselves as the best in the league, next to Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid. We might as well add Edwards to the list because of his determination to achieve greatness.
Edwards is only 22 years old. That is something we often forget. Still learning and growing in this league, Edwards can already check off getting to the conference finals on his to-do list with the Timberwolves. Now that he has been right on the doorsteps of the NBA Finals, the next step for the emerging superstar is making minor fixes in order to play on the league's biggest stage.
“I’ve never played this deep into a basketball season,” Edwards stated after the Timberwolves' loss to the Mavericks, via The Athletic. “So now I know, like, OK, for me to be dominant in the third round and if we get past this and finally go to the finals, I’ve got to train like I’m going to go to the playoffs. So I can’t be missing training days; I can’t take days off. … I’ve got to be ready.”
One of the biggest concerns for young players and teams as they advance into the playoffs is if their bodies and conditioning levels are ready for the fight ahead. Edwards made it a point of emphasis that he needs to train better this summer in order to be prepared for big moments like the Western Conference Finals, which will ultimately lead to his first Finals appearance.
Timberwolves' historic 2023-24 season with Anthony Edwards
The Timberwolves should take a lot of pride in what they accomplished this season. Losing is never fun, especially with a trip to the championship game on the line. However, championship organizations and players are forged through losses like the Timberwolves now have to deal with throughout the summer. Adversity is what molds success.
A 4-1 series loss to the Mavs would be no different than losing in Game 7. A loss is a loss, and it is going to sting for Edwards and the Timberwolves. What is important to note is that Edwards knows there is work to be done. Unlike other players around the league who will be enjoying their time off during the summer, Edwards will be in the gym working on his game and making sure he is ready for the gauntlet that ensues after the 82-game regular season concludes.
Looking back on this season, the Timberwolves established themselves as a powerhouse defensive organization. Edwards made his second All-Star appearance of his career, and he received All-NBA recognition for the very first time.
In the playoffs, the Timberwolves made quick work of a Phoenix Suns team with three superstar talents in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal in the first round. Then, after trailing 3-2 to the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves were able to pull off two of the greatest wins in franchise postseason history, knocking Jokic out of the postseason and effectively ending their quest for back-to-back titles.
The fact of the matter is that nobody expected Minnesota to be this good. Certainly, nobody expected to see them in the Western Conference Finals. Edwards is only going to improve, and the Timberwolves now have a strong sense of belief in themselves. Now, the challenge is no longer making it to the conference finals, but getting back to this very same spot. Only next time, Edwards and the Timberwolves will look to make the necessary adjustments to get to the NBA Finals for the very first time in team history.
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