Edwards humbly assesses his MVP bid, but his scorching scoring and clutch performances paint a different picture for the surging Timberwolves.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the hottest teams in basketball over the past few weeks and Anthony Edwards has been playing the best ball of his career, but even the All-Star Game MVP is keeping things in perspective when it comes to the regular-season award.
Edwards was asked recently about his chances of taking home the MVP trophy this season, and his answer was honest.
"I think I'm a little far off from MVP, but trying to get there," Edwards said. "I don't think we can get to first place no more. So I think that was the only thing that could put me over the top. So yeah, it's going to be tough."
Edwards Is Playing Like an MVP Anyway
While Edwards might not see himself as the front-runner, the numbers he is putting up tell a different story, and they are impossible to ignore.
Through 49 games this season, Edwards is averaging 29.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three.
Those are all career-best marks for a player who has gotten better every single year since being drafted first overall back in 2020.
The scoring jump alone is worth noting because Edwards went from 27.6 points per game last season to nearly 30 this year, and he is doing it with better efficiency across the board.
He dropped 55 points against the San Antonio Spurs in January and has scored 40 or more five times this season, showing that he can take over a game whenever he wants.
Since the All-Star break, Edwards has been even more locked in, averaging over 30 points per game and hitting clutch shots down the stretch in several close wins.
The Timberwolves Keep Winning
The biggest thing working in Edwards' favor is that the Timberwolves are winning games and doing it at a strong rate.
Minnesota sits at 39-23 on the season and currently holds the fourth seed in a loaded Western Conference.
The Timberwolves have won four straight games, including a 117-108 road win over the Denver Nuggets and a 117-110 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
Head coach Chris Finch has talked about how Edwards has grown as a player and praised his ability to impact the game even when his shot is not falling, something that separates good scorers from true superstars.
Edwards has also credited Finch for pushing him to develop a go-to shot at the end of games, and the results have shown up in Minnesota's late-game execution all season long.
The Case Is There Even If Edwards Does Not See It
The reality is that Edwards is right about one thing: first place matters in the MVP race.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 48-15 and sit nine games ahead of the Timberwolves in the Western Conference standings, which means Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be tough to beat for the award.
But what Edwards might be selling himself short on is just how good he has been and how much winning this team has done because of him.
Minnesota has made the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, and this year's version of Edwards looks like a player who is ready to take another step.
He won the All-Star Game MVP in February, he is shooting 40 percent from three for the first time in his career, and the Timberwolves are rolling at the right time with 20 games left to play.
Edwards may not think he is close enough, but the rest of the league knows that a 24-year-old putting up 30 a night on 49 percent shooting while leading his team to wins is exactly what an MVP looks like.