Anthony Edwards has established himself as one of the NBA’s elite young stars, but Kendrick Perkins believes the Minnesota Timberwolves guard has entered a critical stage of his career after watching several of his peers reach the championship level.
Appearing on ESPN, Perkins said Edwards should feel motivated by the recent success of other young superstars, including Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum.
“Anthony Edwards is on the clock,” Perkins said. “It’s no way in hell you didn’t witness Wemby go to the finals, you didn’t witness SGA win a championship, Jalen Brunson win a championship, Jayson Tatum win a championship. It’s okay to be jealous. It’s okay to want more.”
Edwards has already helped transform Minnesota into a consistent Western Conference contender. The 24-year-old averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game during the 2025-26 season while shooting 48.9% from the field, 39.9% from three-point range and 79.6% from the free-throw line.
The three-time All-Star appeared in 61 games and averaged 35.0 minutes per night, adding 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks. His 3.4 made three-pointers per game ranked among the league leaders, highlighting the continued development of his perimeter scoring.
However, Minnesota’s season ended before reaching the NBA Finals. The Timberwolves finished sixth in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record before defeating the Denver Nuggets 4-2 in the first round and losing to the San Antonio Spurs 4-2 in the conference semifinals.
The Spurs went on to win the Western Conference after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games, while the New York Knicks captured the championship by beating San Antonio 4-1 in the Finals.
Perkins’ comments come as Edwards and the Timberwolves enter a new phase. Minnesota reshaped its roster this offseason by adding LaMelo Ball to pair with Edwards in the backcourt while moving on from Julius Randle. The franchise is betting on the combination of Edwards, Ball, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to compete for a championship.
The Timberwolves also delayed Edwards’ contract extension decision. Because he played only 61 games in 2025-26 and did not meet the 65-game requirement for All-NBA eligibility, Edwards can pursue a larger supermax extension in 2027 if he earns All-NBA recognition.
For Edwards, the challenge is no longer individual improvement. He has already become a top-tier scorer and one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players. The next step is leading Minnesota through the Western Conference playoff race and competing for the championship that Perkins believes is now expected from the NBA’s next generation of stars.
