Anthony Edwards Vows to Improve: Determination and Drive After Timberwolves Elimination
The Minnesota Timberwolves' quest for an NBA championship continues, as they fall short in the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive season. The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Timberwolves from the start, winning Game 5 by a score of 124-94 and advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. Despite the loss, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards vowed to come back even better next season, saying, "Nobody's going to work harder than me this summer." The 23-year-old averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game during the regular season, ranking fifth among all NBA players in points per game and representing a career-high for the young superstar. While it may be tough for Edwards to improve on those numbers, he shouldn't be counted out. Edwards has seen his scoring average increase every single season he's been in the league, earning him two All-Star appearances and one top-10 MVP finish. Despite his success in the regular season, Edwards and the Timberwolves have yet to reach the Finals in the playoffs. Edwards has reached the postseason in each of the past four seasons, but has yet to break through to the ultimate goal. He has averaged 26.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists over 42 career playoff games, all higher than his regular-season averages. Despite those numbers, Edwards remains focused on the future and is excited about what's next. "I don't know why people would think it would hurt, it's exciting for me," said Edwards. "I'm 23. I get to do it a whole bunch of times... We'll try again next year." Edwards has drawn comparisons to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan due to his scoring ability and success at a young age. Both players experienced playoff failures early in their career, but Jordan continued to grow as the Bulls' roster improved and eventually broke through to win every single time he reached the Finals. While putting the same expectations on Edwards would be foolish, the blueprint is there as long as he has the drive and work ethic to keep pushing forward.
