Anthony Edwards’ brother cites gold medal win as inspiration for USA star to guide Timberwolves to glory
Anthony Edwards had a triumphant offseason, winning his first Olympic gold medal last month in the 2024 Paris Games. Edwards was one of the key players that brought Team USA its fifth straight Olympic title, following a disappointing FIBA World Cup campaign in 2023.
The gold medal win was also a fitting continuation of Edwards’ impressive Western Conference finals run with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That run defied the initial expectations and dethroned the Denver Nuggets in seven games of the second round.
Considering Edwards’ recent success, his brother Antony Edwards, also known as American rapper 'bdifferent', expects Ant’s gold medal win to catapult him to greater glory with the Timberwolves.
"I think winning a gold medal is just going to make [Ant] more hungry to win for the Minnesota Timberwolves," said the rapper in a clip posted by the Minnesota Timberwolves’ social media page.
Antony and Anthony Edwards grew up together and played high school basketball at the Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School in Atlanta, Georgia. The siblings were both stars of their high school, but Anthony rose to superstar status when he entered college and got drafted number one overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Entering his fifth year in the NBA next season, Edwards will once again be the focal point of the Timberwolves. The team will look to finally go over the playoff hump after a promising 2023-24 campaign alongside Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert.
However, the internal drama happening with the Timberwolves franchise could affect the players' on-court exploits.
Internal conflict could impact Anthony Edwards’ future with the Minnesota Timberwolves
To reach the glory the TImberwolves have never sniffed, it has to get their internal conflict settled. Following their first Western Conference finals appearance in 20 years, the Timberwolves find themselves in a tricky situation as their two owners dispute who has the true ownership of the franchise.
In April 2021, longstanding majority owner Glen Taylor agreed to sell the team to former Major League Baseball great Alex Rodriguez and businessman Marc Lore, for $1.5 billion. This marked the start of the current ownership dispute.
When the time came for the deal to close, Taylor said he was pulling out of the deal, leading to the dispute. The team's value has also risen greatly in the interim period. The matter has now reached the courtroom.
The ownership arbitration hearing is set in November, which could give the franchise an unnecessary distraction from their on-court play.
If Taylor prevails, he might keep the ownership. Or, he could be compelled to sell if he loses as the outcome of the hearing. This can significantly impact the Timberwolves organization in the future.
Nevertheless, Edwards is expected to be the team’s anchor for years to come. He averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game last season, his best numbers so far in his career.
Edwards is entering the first year of his five-year, $245 million contract with Minnesota, securing his future with the franchise. It remains to be seen if the franchise’s current situation will impact his future with the team.