Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball give Minnesota a dynamic combination of scoring, shooting and playmaking that could become the NBA’s best backcourt.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made one of the offseason’s biggest moves by acquiring LaMelo Ball, giving Anthony Edwards the high-level playmaker he has lacked for much of his career.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes the pairing could quickly become the NBA’s premier backcourt.
“I expect Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball to be the best backcourt in the NBA,” Perkins said Wednesday on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
Perkins also predicted Minnesota could reach the NBA Finals, with Ball’s passing allowing Edwards to spend more time at his natural shooting guard position.
The Timberwolves acquired Ball from the Charlotte Hornets in a multiplayer trade July 10. Minnesota sent Naz Reid to Charlotte, while Julius Randle was moved to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the deal.
Ball can make Edwards even more dangerous
Edwards already established himself as one of the league’s most explosive scorers without playing alongside a traditional high-level point guard.
The 24-year-old averaged 28.8 points, five rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 games last season. He shot career highs of 48.9% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range, finishing third in the NBA scoring race behind Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Perkins pointed out that Edwards made 525 3-pointers over the past two seasons, with many coming off the dribble or against heavy defensive attention.
Ball should create more catch-and-shoot opportunities for Edwards while allowing him to attack defenses that are already moving.
Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 72 games for Charlotte last season.
He also shot 36.8% from 3 and made 272 shots from beyond the arc, one fewer than teammate Kon Knueppel, who led the NBA in that category.
Minnesota’s ceiling rises
The pairing has the potential to be one of the league’s most entertaining offensive combinations.
Ball is an inventive passer who thrives in transition and can find teammates from unusual angles. Edwards is an explosive downhill scorer who can finish at the rim, create his own shot and punish defenders from long range.
May 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guardAnthonyEdwards(5) looks on against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half during game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesThere will still be questions. Ball has experienced durability issues throughout his career, and Minnesota must determine how its revamped roster will replace the size, rebounding and frontcourt scoring lost in the trade.
Ball must also prove he can contribute to winning at the highest level after spending his first six seasons with Charlotte. Edwards, meanwhile, will remain responsible for setting Minnesota’s competitive tone.
Calling them the NBA’s best backcourt before they have played a game together may be premature. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, Dallas’ Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, and you've got to throw Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves in that mix, being the highest-scoring duo at one point last season.
Apr 5, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Charlotte Hornets guardLaMeloBall(1) is challenged by MinnesotaTimberwolvesguard Bones Hyland (8) for theballin the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn ImagesStill, Perkins’ optimism is understandable. Edwards is entering his prime as an MVP candidate, while Ball gives Minnesota an elite passer who can reduce the creation burden on him.
If both players remain healthy and build chemistry quickly, the Timberwolves could have one of the league’s most explosive duos and a legitimate opportunity to contend in the Western Conference.
