The Timberwolves’ Monday performance—a rousing overtime victory over the previously unbeaten Celtics—was exactly the sort of showing Minnesota expected to be able to piece together after orchestrating last year’s blockbuster deal for elite rim protector Rudy Gobert.
It was a total 180 from what we generally saw last season, when Karl-Anthony Towns missed the majority of the campaign due to injury, on-again, off-again floor general D’Angelo Russell got dealt and stud rookie center Walker Kessler—dealt to Utah as part of the enormous deal for Gobert—was brought up in daily conversation by T-Wolves fans who were beside themselves in watching what, at the time, looked like a shallow return for so many outgoing assets.
Of course it’s early yet, but Minnesota, 4–2 thus far, is showing legitimate promise. The defense—good last season, but rarely more than the sum of its excellent parts—has been superb two weeks in. And 22-year-old Anthony Edwards, fresh off his experience serving as “the guy” for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer, looks like he’s taken another step toward superstardom. In fact, he may already be there. Monday suggested as much.
