Edwards had to step away from the game this summer to let his knee heal, and he says he feels great now.
Most NBA stars spend their summers in the gym, but shooting guard Anthony Edwards had to do the opposite this year.
After a long season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Edwards said he needed about two months away from basketball to let his knee heal, and in a video posted Saturday by Andrew Dukowitz, he explained what that time looked like and how he feels heading into his seventh season.
What Edwards Did Without Basketball
Edwards said that after the season ended, he took roughly two months off so the knee could get right, and that the treatment he went through during that stretch got him back to where he wanted to be.
He admitted the time away was super tough, and he said he put on a lot of weight during the break before losing it again.
When he was asked how he filled his days without the game, his answer was all about family.
"I just play the game, and be a dad, that's it. Be a husband, be a dad, and play the game, all I do is play the game," Edwards said in a clip Dukowitz posted.
Edwards added that his mornings started at 6:30 with his daughter, doing whatever she wanted to do, before he went back to sleep for a bit and got some treatment.
The family stuff is fun to hear, but the knee news is what Wolves fans will care about most.
Why This Break Was Needed
Edwards had a rough year, as a hamstring injury early in the season and trouble with both knees late limited him to 61 games, the fewest of his career, though he still averaged 28.8 points per game.
Then in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets, he suffered a left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise, and the team called him week-to-week.
Minnesota still beat Denver in six games before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in six in the second round.
Edwards played through a lot to get there, so taking two months off was the smart choice, even if it was hard for a player who loves to compete.
The timing works out well, too, because Minnesota traded for point guard LaMelo Ball this summer, which lets Edwards slide back to his natural shooting guard spot, and head coach Chris Finch has talked about how Ball will make things easier for his star.
A healthy Edwards who does not have to bring the ball up every night should be able to save more of his energy for the end of games and for defense.
The Pressure Is On
Kendrick Perkins has already set a lofty goal for Edwards, and with a new-look group that Minnesota finalized before training camp, the Wolves look ready to make a deep run in the West.
All of that depends on Edwards staying on the floor, and the Wolves visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Oct. 5, in the preseason, and the regular season begins Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Miami.
If the two months away did what Edwards says they did, Minnesota should get its star back at full strength.
