Edwards is eager to bring Garnett-like energy to the playoffs after a so-so T-wolves regular season
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards heard the ovation Kevin Garnett was getting from the Minnesota crowd and hustled across the court for a pregame bear hug, as the Hall of Fame forward and Timberwolves icon was soaking in his warm welcome from the fans last week . Edwards found plenty of inspiration from Garnett's first visit to Target Center in eight years, at the end of a rather uninspiring regular season for the team overall. “He’s the greatest Timberwolf of all time,” Edwards said after practice on Wednesday.
"That was big for us, getting him back in the building, and hopefully we can get him back for the playoffs to give us some energy. ” After the reaching the Western Conference finals in each of the last two years, the Timberwolves will take plenty of confidence and experience into these NBA playoffs beginning on Saturday at Denver. But they'll have to show some serious reinvigoration from the so-so performance over the last three months.
“We know the team we can be and who we have been. It’s about whether we can maintain that,” coach Chris Finch said. “You don’t ever really want to be a flip-the-switch team, but we do have a switch to flip, and we have to flip it now.
When we do that, everybody kind of becomes the best version of themselves and that brings out that continuity and connection that we need. ” Just like Garnett fueled the Timberwolves teams of a previous generation, culminating in their Western Conference finals appearance in 2004, the engine of the current group originates with Edwards . The four-time All-Star guard, who has helped lead Minnesota to the playoffs in five of his six years in the NBA , has been part of the problem this season during certain lulls in the team's focus and spirit.
“It felt like that at times, like we were just trying to get through the season to get to the playoffs, but we’re here now, and all the other excuses are out the window,” said Edwards, who averaged 28. 8 points per game in 2025-26 on 48. 9% shooting including 39.