Through thirteen games this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have solidified their status as true contenders in the West. Currently they’re sitting in the #1 spot in their conference with a 10-3 record. They’ve got signature wins against the defending champion Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. The undisputed face of their franchise Anthony Edwards is off to an incredible start in his fourth season. He is standing on the precipice of becoming a two-way superstar. Let’s take a detailed look at how Edwards has improved on the offensive end, specifically in the mid-range and as a passer.
Mastering the Midrange
Last Season’s Struggles
First, in order to understand how much The Ant Man has improved, it’s necessary to rewind to last season. In the 2022-23 regular season Edwards shot well below league average in the midrange. He was especially inefficient around the free throw line at 26.8% (league average was 42.1%). Additionally, he was only slightly better from the left and right elbows at 31.7% and 43.6%, respectfully. Edwards is an elite at-rim finisher and a good shooter from deep. (67% at the rim and 36% from 3 in the 2022-23 season). Therefore, it makes sense that opposing defenses would encourage him to take mid-range shots.
Defenses would funnel him into these locations in several ways. They would run him off the three point line, provide gap help, and wall up in the paint. Even though he missed the majority of his mid-range pull-ups, there were flashes of his potential in these zones. The short video below demonstrates these situations. You’ll see examples of the defensive strategies mentioned above, as well as the flashes that have become more common this season.
This Season’s Improvements
Fast-forward to the 2023-24 NBA season, and through 13 games Edwards has made great strides as a mid-range scorer. He’s improved to 50% around the free throw line, and is nearly automatic around the elbows. So far he’s shooting 50% from the right elbow and 62.5% from the left side. Granted, it’s a small sample size but if he can maintain this efficiency, Ant goes from a good scorer to a great one. He’s now the kind of player that will punish his defender if he gets even an inch of open space anywhere on the court.
The mid-range pull ups that were mathematically a bad shot for him last season now may be Edwards’ signature shot. He throws off his defender by changing speeds, going from slow to fast at a moment’s notice. You’ll often see him combine this staccato rhythm with a healthy dose of elevation on his shot. Add those elements to his high release point, the end result is a fluid shot that’s quite difficult to contest.
The Playmaking Piece
Due to Edwards’ improvement as a scorer, defenses are giving him more attention and respect than ever. This subsequently opens up more playmaking opportunities. In this season he’s averaging a career-high 5.1 assists per game along with a career-high in assist percentage, at 24.2%. Ant has improved significantly as a pick and roll playmaker. He’s processing where the help is coming from quicker than ever before. As you’ll see in the following clips, the threat of Edwards pulling up in the mid-range forces the screener’s man to come up high rather than dropping back into the paint. This means either the screener will be open on the roll, or if weak side defenders tag the roller, Ant can make the skip pass to a wide-open shooter like Mike Conley.
Looking Ahead
So far this season, Anthony Edwards has elevated his play and in doing so, has elevated the Timberwolves to true contenders in the West. His growth as a mid-range scorer and as a playmaker certainly adds value in the regular season. Whether he can maintain this production and efficiency throughout all 82 games and into the playoffs is up to him. Personally, I believe in The Ant Man. Let me know if you agree.
