Anthony Edwards is not in the running for end-of-season awards after his petition to bypass the NBA’s 65-game eligibility threshold under the “extraordinary circumstances” clause was denied.
Minnesota Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett, however, believes Edwards should have a much bigger individual goal in mind entering the playoffs.
Kevin Garnett Challenges Anthony Edwards to Win 1st NBA Finals MVP
Edwards delivered career-best offensive production in Year 6, averaging 28.8 points per game en route to his fourth straight All-Star selection. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves standout, injuries limited him to only 61 appearances after suiting up in at least 72 contests in each of his first five seasons.
As a result, Edwards was disqualified from awards contention, costing him a chance at a third consecutive All-NBA nod. Unlike fellow superstars Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham, who each fell one appearance short of the 65-game minimum, Edwards was not granted an exception, as an arbitrator denied his case.
Edwards’ business manager, Justin Holland, pushed back on Thursday’s verdict, expressing confusion over the 24-year-old not being given leniency after missing time for a toe infection, before adding that “Ant isn’t trippin over it AT ALL.”
Upon learning of the news, Garnett, who attended his first Minnesota home game in eight years during Sunday’s 132-126 season finale win against the New Orleans Pelicans, issued Edwards a new challenge.
“Eff it! Go get Finals MVP then @anthonyedwards 😤😤😤,” Garnett posted on X.
Eff it! Go get Finals MVP then @anthonyedwards 😤😤😤 https://t.co/rZcvFCt9zu
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) April 17, 2026
The Hall of Famer’s tweet was reminiscent of late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s habit of posing challenges to various players on social media, including the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Isaiah Thomas.
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While the Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back Western Conference finals appearances, they once again finished as a sixth seed (49-33). Between Edwards’ rare durability issues, less depth, and their gradual defensive decline since pacing the league with a 108.4 defensive rating in the 2023-24 campaign, they aren’t positioned as a top-tier NBA title threat.
Still, extensive playoff experience, combined with having one of the league’s best shot creators in Edwards, has Minnesota looming as a dark-horse threat out West.
Edwards and Co. are facing what many pundits consider the toughest road to the NBA Finals. They begin with a postseason rematch against the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets, spearheaded by three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, in Round 1.
If they emerge victorious against the 54-win Nuggets, they could be tasked with knocking off the 62-win San Antonio Spurs in Round 2, followed by the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18) in the conference finals.
As such, a potential 2026 title run for Edwards and ensuing Finals MVP win would mark one for the ages, likely requiring him to take his game to unprecedented heights.
