Anthony Edwards has described his Minnesota Timberwolves as ‘soft’ and likened them to ‘a bunch of little kids,’ showcasing his unfiltered approach to addressing the team’s challenges.
Following a disappointing 115-104 defeat to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, the young star did not hold back in expressing his frustrations about the team’s lack of communication and cohesion.
“I think we’re soft as (heck) as a team, internally,” Edwards stated. “Not to the other team, but internally, we soft. We can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids. It feels like we’re playing with a bunch of little kids. Everybody, the whole team. We just can’t talk to each other. We’ve got to figure it out because we can’t go down this road.”
Despite reaching the 2024 Western Conference finals, the Timberwolves have struggled recently, losing four consecutive games and seven of their last nine after a promising start of 6-3 this season. The team, still adjusting after the significant trade of Karl-Anthony Towns, often appears disjointed on the court.
This disarray was evident when they squandered a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter against Sacramento, just a day after a heart-wrenching 117-111 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets at home.
“We look like frontrunners for sure tonight,” Edwards remarked. “When we were down, nobody wanted to say anything. We got up, and everybody was cheering and hyped up. But when we fell behind again, nobody spoke up. That’s the definition of a frontrunner. We as a team, including myself, were all frontrunners tonight.”
He further noted, “Everybody right now is on different agendas. I think that’s one of the main culprits of why we’re losing.” Edwards, who led the Timberwolves with 29 points on 9-of-24 shooting, emphasized the importance of unity and communication.
In the huddle, he was seen actively engaging with teammates like Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, illustrating his commitment to fostering a better team dynamic.
Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo were significant acquisitions in the trade that sent Towns to the New York Knicks three weeks before the season began. Both players have faced inconsistent performances since joining the Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, Towns has found his footing with the Knicks, contrasting the struggles faced by his former team.
Edwards clarified that the team’s issues extend beyond the newcomers. “I’m talking about the whole team,” he explained. “All 15 of us go into our own shells, and we’re just growing away from each other. It’s obvious. We can see it. I can see it; the team can see it; the coaches can see it.”
“The fans are booing us,” Edwards remarked, with his team sitting at 8-10 ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. “That stuff is crazy, man. We’re getting booed in our home arena. That’s so disrespectful; it’s crazy.”
