Anthony Edwards is one of the NBA’s bright young stars. He has emerged as a household name in recent years, and he just guided the Minnesota Timberwolves to their second consecutive Western Conference Finals. Before he joined the Wolves, they had a dismal postseason track record with only one Conference Finals appearance in franchise history.
However, with the Timberwolves now down 0-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Edwards struggling a bit, the young star is starting to get some flak. Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho explained why hasn’t been impressed with the Timberwolves star.
Former NFL LB Emmanuel Acho Calls Out Anthony Edwards
During his appearance on FS1’s “The Facility,” Acho explained why he had high expectations for Edwards entering the Western Conference Finals.
“Coming into the series with a blank canvas on Anthony Edwards, my opinion has changed,” Acho said. “I thought Anthony Edwards was supposed to be this player that sits superior to every other player in the NBA, at least in the playoffs right now, based upon his youth and based upon his talent level.
“He’s entering what you might suggest is that peak or that pre-peak. He’s five years into the league. He’s 24 years of age. He went to the Conference Finals last year, so it’s not as though he lacks experience. It’s not as though he lacks youth. It’s not as though he lacks health, seemingly. He has done everything you are supposed to have done to escalate to that next tier of talent, and I haven’t seen it.
.@EmmanuelAcho: My opinion of Anthony Edwards has changed in these playoffs. pic.twitter.com/PjRlODnA21
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1)
Acho added that watching other stars in the playoffs like Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson rise to the occasion makes Edwards look worse from his standpoint.
“Ant Man, I won’t say I think less of him than I did before the playoffs started,” Acho explained. “The problem is I think the same of him, and I think more of Haliburton and more of Brunson and more of his peers, so my opinion and perspective has changed.”
The Timberwolves were embarrassed by the Dallas Mavericks in last year’s Western Conference Finals, as they suffered a gentleman’s sweep. Now, they are down 0-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Edwards hasn’t looked like his dominant self.
Two games in, Edwards is averaging 25 points, nine rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game while shooting just 43.6% from the field and 23.5% from three. His averages aren’t too shabby, but his shooting percentages leave a lot to be desired.
Through 12 games during these playoffs, Edwards is putting up 26.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 3.3 triples, and 1.3 steals on 44.4/36.1/73.0 shooting splits.
It’s not Edwards’ fault that the Thunder are a juggernaut and boast the league’s best defense. During the regular season, OKC allowed 104.7 points per 100 possessions — by far the best mark in the league. Throw in the league MVP and plenty of defensive difference-makers, and the Thunder’s D is extremely difficult to score on.
It’s worth noting that this series is still in the early stages and it is about to shift to Minnesota, so perhaps Edwards’ best games are still ahead of him. It will be interesting to see how Edwards and the Wolves adjust to try to attack OKC and whether they can even the series back home.
One thing is for certain: Minnesota will go as far as Edwards takes them, and all eyes will be on the ascending superstar to see what he will do on this massive stage.
