Latest news with #MinnesotaTimberwolves
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards Draws Epic Comparison to Dwyane Wade
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Three-time All-Star Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards, still just 23, has had quite the run recently. The 6-foot-4 Georgia product has led his club to the playoffs across the last four of his five pro seasons, only missing out as a rookie in 2020-21. Edwards has guided the Timberwolves to two consecutive Western Conference Finals berths for the first time in franchise history. Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates during the second half in game one of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on April 20, 2024 in Minneapolis,... Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates during the second half in game one of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on April 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. More Photo byNow, Edwards has drawn a heady, Hall of Fame comparison from his most senior Timberwolves teammate. One-time All-Star starting Minnesota point guard Mike Conley, 37, believes that Edwards' game has a lot in common with that of 13-time All-Star Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade, writes Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson for Heat Nation. Ant Edwards & Dwyane Wade's game mirror says Mike Conley Jr. 'I think his game is more like a D-Wade mix… the way he gets into the paint, wiggles around in there while being unbalanced, finishing & defending the rim.' 🔗 My latest via @HeatNationCom ➡️ — 👑 Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson (@ScoopB) May 29, 2025 "I think his game is more like a D-Wade mix... the way he gets into the paint, wiggles around in there while being unbalanced, finishing and defending the rim," Conley said of Edwards. Edwards has often been considered akin to Wade with an outside shot, an athletic, two-way swingman who can serve as a lead ball handler and scorer. As Conley notes, both stars are terrific finishers around the cup. More Minnesota Timberwolves News: Timberwolves Get Major Update on Julius Randle, Naz Reid Future "So it's like it's Ant all to himself and it's D-Wade, you know?" Conley said. "Because his body and the way he gets in the paint, wiggle around in there being unbalanced and finishing and defending the rim." Both players also happen to be the same size, and boast similar athletic profiles. Wade, of course, led his Heat to the NBA Finals and a championship during just his third pro season, although he had logged two NCAA seasons at Marquette to Edwards' one at Georgia. Eventually, Wade wrapped up his 16-year pro career (he spent parts of 15 seasons in Miami) with five NBA Finals appearances, three wins, and one Finals MVP award. He logged averages of 22.0 points on 48 percent shooting from the field and 76.5 percent shooting from the foul line, 5.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He was an eight-time All-NBA honoree and a three-time All-Defensive Teamer. The Timberwolves are crossing their fingers that Edwards can enjoy similar success and land the franchise its first-ever title. During the regular season, Edwards averaged 27.6 points on .447/.395/.837 shooting splits, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks. In the playoffs, Edwards notched respectable averages of 25.3 points on a .453/.354/.719 slash line, 7.8 boards, 5.5 dimes, 1.1 swipes and 0.7 rejections More Minnesota Timberwolves News: Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards Makes Bold Declaration Following Brutal Game 5 Loss NBA Champion Says Timberwolves Should Target This Anthony Edwards Co-Star For more Minnesota Timberwolves and general NBA news and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Magic Poised to Poach Timberwolves Star Free Agent: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A trio of critical contributors to the Minnesota Timberwolves could hit free agency this summer. 2024 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid, who is clearly convinced he deserves to start in this league, has a $15 million player option he seems likely to decline, knowing he can earn more on the open market. Three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who put on a two-way clinic through the first two rounds of the playoffs only to turn into a pumpkin in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, has a $30.9 million player option. Jimmy Butler III #10 and Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors go for rebound against Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9, Rudy Gobert #27 and Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Three of... Jimmy Butler III #10 and Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors go for rebound against Nickeil Alexander-Walker #9, Rudy Gobert #27 and Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 10, 2025 in San Francisco, California. MoreSeventh man shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, meanwhile, is an unrestricted free agent, and his abilities as an intriguing 3-and-D option could earn him a raise. More Minnesota Timberwolves News: Timberwolves Get Major Update on Futures of Julius Randle, Naz Reid Other franchises could be interested in Alexander-Walker's services, writes Marc Stein of The Stein Line on his Substack. Around-the-league NBA notes couldn't wait until Sunday. The latest free agency rumbles, trade talk and leaguewide chatter ... it runs right now: — Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 31, 2025 Stein pinpoints the Orlando Magic, specifically, as a team that could look to bring a seasoned vet of Alexander-Walker's ability aboard. "The reality, though, is that Alexander-Walker is bound to generate the most significant external interest of the three — especially coming off a season in which he earned just $4.3 million," Stein notes. "Next season's full midlevel exception will be worth more than three times what Alexander-Walker made last season at $14.1 million ... with rumbles already in circulation that Orlando is a team to watch as a potential suitor." Alexander-Walker has emerged on the national hoops stage thanks to his key contributions during the Timberwolves' two consecutive Western Conference Finals runs since last season. His first name even came under fire by (a presumably mostly joking) Charles Barkley on TNT. "Is his real name Nickeil?" Barkley joked during a recent broadcast. "Boy, somebody just made up some stuff again... They named him after a coin—they just spelled it wrong." Per longtime NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Alexander-Walker revealed the origins of his first name. "My mom's name is Nicole and my dad's name is Nicholas," Alexander-Walker said. "My mom originally wanted to name me Khalil; she had a friend who had a baby named Khalil maybe a year or a couple months before I was born, and so, my grandmother just named me Nickeil. And you know, my grandmother's very close in my life." The world certainly knows his name now, even if it's still learning the origins of that name. During the playoffs, the 6-foot-5 swingman averaged 8.3 points on a semi-inefficient .389/.349/.882 slash line, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per. He's a solid player on both sides of the ball, and could help bolster the Magic's perimeter depth. "Honestly, I felt a little slighted at first," Alexander-Walker said. "It was a little disrespectful because I take pride in who I am, and my name is part of my identity. Knowing that it was given to me from people who I care about a lot, means a lot." More Minnesota Timberwolves News: Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards Makes Bold Declaration Following Brutal Game 5 Loss NBA Champion Says Timberwolves Should Target This Anthony Edwards Co-Star For more Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and general NBA news and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chris Finch on learning from WCF loss
Chris Finch: 'We're going to go home and fight for Game 3' [RAW] Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch reacts after a 118-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals Thursday night. The Timberwolves are down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series as it shifts to Target Center Saturday night.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
OKC Thunder practice: What Mark Daigneault, Chet Holmgren said on May 31
May 28, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images After a two-day rest, the Oklahoma City Thunder held their first 2025 NBA Finals media availability on Saturday. They're fresh off a blowout Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to punch their ticket to the championship round. The Thunder will now enjoy a week off before they host Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, June 5. The Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks will be the opposition. Indiana holds a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Advertisement Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Chet Holmgren talked to the media on Saturday. Daigneault discussed OKC's homecourt advantage while Holmgren reflected on his journey from a hip fracture that cost him three months. Here's a recap of the Thunder's NBA Finals May 31 practice: This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder practice: What Mark Daigneault, Chet Holmgren said on May 31
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder practice: What Mark Daigneault, Chet Holmgren said on May 31
After a two-day rest, the Oklahoma City Thunder held their first 2025 NBA Finals media availability on Saturday. They're fresh off a blowout Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to punch their ticket to the championship round. The Thunder will now enjoy a week off before they host Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, June 5. The Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks will be the opposition. Indiana holds a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and Chet Holmgren talked to the media on Saturday. Daigneault discussed OKC's homecourt advantage while Holmgren reflected on his journey from a hip fracture that cost him three months. Here's a recap of the Thunder's NBA Finals May 31 practice: Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
