Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is embracing a new backcourt partnership with LaMelo Ball, a move the team believes will unlock his MVP potential. The Wolves are riding high with a three-game winning run, most recently beating the New Orleans Pelicans 132-126 on April 13, (2026).
Edwards, a natural shooting guard, expressed clear relief at having a primary playmaker beside him. "I feel like I'm a natural two-guard at heart," Edwards told reporters. "I never thought I could develop any point guard skills. I know Finchy harps on me passing the ball." Head coach Chris Finch has long pushed Edwards as a passer, but the arrival of Ball shifts that responsibility.
The dynamic is expected to transform Edwards's role on both ends of the floor. He admitted that carrying the offensive load previously limited his defensive energy. "I feel like the last couple years I couldn't play defense as good as I wanted to because I was bringing the ball up," Edwards said. "At times I had to score all the time; I was super tired. But now I got LaMelo. I got a point guard."
Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly echoed this, noting Ball's arrival will allow Edwards to excel as a two-way player. "He had to do so much offensively." Connelly stated. "But he's got to be a two-way player. He's got to be elite on both ends."
Teammates are projecting a major leap for Edwards with Ball drawing defensive attention. Forward Jaden McDaniels painted a challenging picture for opponents. "Man, it's gonna be hard to guard him now because you can't load up on him and trap him," McDaniels said. "I feel like him coming off pin-downs and stuff like that where he already has a head of steam is gonna be hard to guard him."
McDaniels didn't hold back on his expectations for Edwards's seventh NBA season. "It's already hard to guard him without it. So I'm just excited for him." Edwards's own focus has shifted from pure scoring to overall impact, judging his games more on plus-minus than total points.
The team's confidence is buoyed by immediate results. Their recent form reads 3 wins and 2 losses in the last five games (WWWLL), and they are currently on a three-game winning streak. This run started with a 136-132 road victory over the Houston Rockets on April 11, followed by a dominant 124-104 win against the Indiana Pacers on April 7, and capped by the 132-126 triumph over New Orleans.
Those wins snapped a brief two-game skid that included losses to the Charlotte Hornets (122-108 on April 5) and the Detroit Pistons (113-108 on April 2). The integration of LaMelo Ball comes as Minnesota builds momentum, aiming to solidify a playoff position with a simplified, potent role for their franchise player.
