Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Anthony Edwards is not exactly asserting himself as a standard bearer for No. 1 overall picks, but he is earning the praise of head coach Ryan Saunders.
Saunders said Tuesday he gives Edwards high marks for his basketball IQ, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Anthony Edwards: "I'm smarter than a lot of people think. I just look like this." … Saunders said his feel and understanding for the game has been top notch. Maybe gets to a perception he had coming in different than the reality.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) January 5, 2021
Minnesota's head coach also suggested Edwards has changed the perception of his character and dedication to the game following pre-draft comments he made regarding his desire to be a rapper and his feeling he could have been elite at any sport.
Saunders said Edwards' dedication to the game has been even greater than anticipated.
*And by perception he had: I mean that there was a perception surrounding Edwards about commitment to the game maybe not being there. So far it's been the opposite.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) January 5, 2021
Edwards was regarded as perhaps the most explosive offensive player in the draft. The former Georgia Bulldog had a scouting report detailing tremendous athleticism and ability to score at all three levels while also projecting as an elite shot-creator,
The 19-year-old has shown bursts through his first six NBA games with the Timberwolves. Edwards has shown little hesitance in firing away from beyond the arc and has often looked to make plays in transition.
Still, there is plenty of room for growth. Edwards is shooting just over 31 percent from deep, and he has struggled to impact the game in other areas.
That said, the Timberwolves are struggling as a unit. Minnesota has lost each of its last four games, with three of the four losses coming by 20 or more points.
The Timberwolves desperately need guys to step up and fill the void left by Karl-Anthony Towns' absence. Perhaps Edwards will be that guy, as Saunders has suggested his maturation is already ahead of schedule.
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