Anthony Edwards was not supposed to play in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a nagging back injury. But he did, and Edwards led his team to a 118-114 victory.
The three-time NBA All-Star exploded for 41 points, seven rebounds, and five three-pointers on 14-for-28 shooting from the field in 39 minutes of action. The Minnesota Timberwolves star credited the team’s training staff for whipping him into shape last offseason to be in this position.
“Yeah, it was truly questionable, for sure,” Edwards said via Jonathan Harrison of SI. “Even when I got up out of bed, I told them, ‘I ain’t going to be able to go.’ And I got here, I worked out, felt a little good. And then I told E, ‘I don’t know. Let me get some treatment first.’ And then, like I said, after I got off the table with him, I was like, ‘I feel good. I’m going to try to go.'”
“Just being prepared, I think that’s the main thing. You want to be prepared coming into the season,” he continued. “Like, my last five years, I tried to take the first 10 games to get into shape, and this year I was like, I’m going to use the summer to get into shape. So I think that was the difference… “It’s hurting. I’m in pain right now, but yeah, I was good throughout the game.”
Minnesota Timberwolves News: Anthony Edwards gives shoutout to two teammates in win vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Anthony Edwards’ 41-point game is a Minnesota Timberwolves record for most points in a season opener. But while his contributions stood out the most, the 24-year-old swingman made sure to give some of his teammates some plaudits.
“Jaylen Clark, man, he’s incredible. On the ball, in the gaps, playing the passing lanes. Everything he does elevates the team on the defensive end. We just try to follow that type of energy,” Edwards said.
“I told him, man, that three ball looked good. You can tell he been working,” he said on Jaden McDaniels. “Like, the first five years of his career it was kind of flat. This year, I mean, tonight it was like he got the arc on the ball. It looked like he knows it’s going in now. That comes from working. So, if you working like that, then you know it’s going in. I’m going to get him in that gym with me, it’s going to be super cash then.”
