NBA Abu Dhabi Games: Timberwolves coach says Anthony Edwards primed for big season

Anthony Edwards looks poised for a breakout 2023/24 NBA campaign and the Minnesota Timberwolves plan on taking full advantage of the explosive 22-year-old guard.

Despite his best efforts to dismiss the narrative of him emerging as the new face of the Minnesota franchise, Edwards is undoubtedly the team’s most exciting prospect and expectations are sky-high when it comes to what he can deliver this upcoming season.

Back in Abu Dhabi for the second time in as many months, Edwards raised his profile globally with a solid stint on Team USA at the FIBA World Cup over the summer, and has already experienced the atmosphere at Etihad Arena having played a couple of exhibition matches with his national side in August.

He returns to the UAE capital with an ambitious Wolves team that will take on the Dallas Mavericks in two pre-season games on Thursday and Saturday at Yas Island’s impressive venue.

With Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert both fit for training camp, and Edwards ready to take the leap, Minnesota have every reason to believe they can improve on their 42-40 record from last season, where they made the play-offs but lost in the first round to eventual champions Denver Nuggets.

“He certainly has that within him,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said on Wednesday when asked about Edwards being primed for a big season.

“Every year he’s gotten a little bit better, a little stronger, a little more consistent. We’ve all seen what Anthony can do and when you want to be a great player you have to do it night in, night out and that’s his challenge now, he’s got to do it for 82 games.”

Edwards says he learned a lot from his time with USA Basketball, “really just seeing how guys work on their game, how other team’s best