That flight back to Minnesota after the Game 2 loss in OKC? You can bet it was a pretty gloomy ride for the Timberwolves. Down 0-2 in the Western Conference Finals, the pressure was already cranked up to eleven. But for Julius Randle, it must have been even rougher. He’d just had a nightmare game – six points, 2-of-11 from the field, and benched for the whole fourth quarter.
In his post-game interview following Game 3, Randle admitted just how much that Game 2 performance stung, saying he felt he’d completely let the team down and was “hot” and just plain “upset.” It’s easy for a player to get stuck in their own head in moments like that.
But then, something changed on that plane, all thanks to Anthony Edwards. Seeing his veteran teammate clearly down in the dumps, the 23-year-old Wolves superstar didn’t mess around. He went right over to Randle and kept it simple and direct. “He was the first one—he seen me and he like, “Bro, just just shake back. You good. Like, don’t worry about it,” Randle said after their huge Game 3 win.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
That little chat, that quiet word on the plane, apparently made a world of difference. Randle talked about how Ant’s encouragement helped him snap out of it. “As the flight went on I was able to like start smiling and laughing again and, you know, we playing cards and all that stuff,” he explained. That right there shows you the kind of leader Ant is becoming – a guy who really gets his teammates and knows what to say when someone’s down. “He’s very in tune with his teammates and what’s going on,” Randle said, giving Ant major props for his unselfishness and maturity. “As a leader of a team, you need that.”
And Randle brought that new energy straight into Game 3. With the Wolves absolutely needing a win, he balled out, dropping a dominant 24 points and playing a massive part in their blowout 143-101 victory over OKC – a win margin of a whopping 42 points. After the game, Ant himself talked about Randle’s bounce-back. “He’s a vet man. A vet knows what to do. He knows how to respond,” Ant said. “He came in with the right energy in shootaround this morning. I could see it in his eyes, man. He wanted his respect back, and he got it.”
It’s moments like these that really highlight the incredible leap Anthony Edwards has made this season. When you compare the Ant we saw at times during the regular season to the player who’s taken the court in these playoffs, it’s like night and day. He has now shaped into this leader who’s lifting his teammates and showing maturity that’s truly game-changing for the Timberwolves.
Ant’s glow up – from wild child to WCF leader
Let’s be real for a minute: Anthony Edwards becoming this guy, this leader? It wasn’t always a sure thing. This is a young man who crashed into the NBA with a boatload of talent and a personality that, well, let’s just say it was intense and didn’t always have a filter.
You can’t forget, Ant’s been in the headlines for more than just insane dunks. Back in September 2022, he landed himself in some serious trouble – and a $40,000 fine from the league – for posting an Instagram video with some pretty ugly homophobic comments. That was a bad look, no doubt. To his credit, Edwards owned it. He apologized publicly, saying, “What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredibly sorry… I was raised better than that!”
The Timberwolves weren’t thrilled either, and Ant even said, “It just makes me think before I do everything now, pretty much.” You gotta figure that was a huge wake-up call for a 21-year-old.
Apr 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) in the second half during game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Then there was the whole chair incident after a playoff loss in Denver in April 2023. He was ticked off after missing a big shot, grabbed a chair on his way out, and swung it, hitting a couple of arena workers. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt, and the criminal charges didn’t stick, but the NBA still dinged him $50,000 for being reckless.
And sure, throughout the 2024-2025 season, there were other fines – for flipping off refs, for mouthing off to fans, for swearing in interviews. It all added up to this image of a young star still wrestling with the pressure and the spotlight. He even managed to annoy Magic Johnson with some pretty bold takes about old-school NBA players not having any skill.
But then you watch him in these playoffs, especially how he handled Julius Randle, and you just see it – this is a different Ant. He’s still got that undeniable confidence. But now, there’s this real understanding of what his team needs from him, and it’s not always about him jacking up 30 shots.
Coach Chris Finch has seen it. He’s talked about Ant’s growth, how he’s handling frustration better, how he’s making smarter plays. “He has gone from being super frustrated… to embracing it and figuring out in the moment a lot better,” Finch said earlier this season. “Now I see him directing his teammates… he’s thinking a pass or two ahead.” Even Rudy Gobert’s been impressed: “Watch his focus. Watch his approach. Watch his growth over the years. It has been amazing.”
So, this change in behavior? It’s not like Ant’s lost his fire. Not at all. He’s just learning how to aim it better. He gets his impact now, both the good and the bad, and he’s seeing how he can actually lift his whole squad. The guy who used to make news for the wrong reasons is now getting props from vets for being a mature, locked-in leader.
That kind of jump, from a super-talented kid who was still figuring things out to a focused superstar who can genuinely inspire his team? That’s one of the refreshing stories going in these playoffs.
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