Anthony Edwards has made it clear that he is over not being named NBA’s Rookie of the Year last year.
Despite dominating the rookie class for most of the year statistically, scoring 19.3 points and grabbing 4.7 rebounds per game in just over 32 minutes per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-8) , Edwards finished second in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award voting behind Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, who led the league’s rookies last season in assists per game.
Recently Edwards mentioned that he had a bigger award in mind with the same confidence he had when he told Stephen Curry he may score 50 points against his Golden State Warriors.
Ant: “Hey Steph, I might get 50.” 😅@theantedwards_ was locked in last night pic.twitter.com/zm2dVy4NPt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 11, 2021
“I don’t care about that,” Edwards told NBA.com. “I’m happy ‘Melo got it. They were saying our Draft class wasn’t going to be good, anyway. So, it didn’t bother me that I didn’t get it.”
“I’m trying to be MVP,” Edwards said. “I’m not really worried about Rookie of the Year.”
It already looks as if Edwards is working toward his goal.
Through 12 games, he’s averaging 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists which is an improvement to his rookie numbers of 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. His career-high scoring game of 48 points put him in a club with Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and former Hawks star John Drew as the only NBA players to have three 40-point plus games before the age of 21.
For the Minnesota Timberwolves to become a playoff contender, they need their star second-year player to continue to try to attain his high aspirations. The Timberwolves play the Suns (9-3) Monday.
