Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns Says Anthony Edwards Will Be Face Of NBA ‘Sooner Than Later’

Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns believes shooting guard Anthony Edwards will be the face of the NBA “sooner than later.”

Edwards, 22, is one of the best young players in the league. 

"He hates when I say it, but he's going to be the face of the NBA."

Karl-Anthony Towns shared what he sees in Anthony Edwards 👏 pic.twitter.com/4012EoTdJn

— First Take (@FirstTake) February 23, 2024

Edwards is averaging 26.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists this season while shooting 47.1% from the field, 38.6% from 3 and 84.1% from the foul line. He’s ninth in the NBA in total points and 11th in points per game. 

The Timberwolves have the top record in the Western Conference at 39-16. Edwards and Towns are trying to lead Minnesota to a championship for the first time in franchise history. 

Edwards signed a five-year, $204 million extension last offseason. He’ll make $35.3 million next season.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves signed Towns to a four-year, $221 million extension in July 2022. KAT will make $49.4 million next season. 

A four-time All-Star, Towns is averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks this season while shooting 51.7% from the floor, 43.7% from beyond the arc and 87.8% from the free-throw line. He has 20 double-doubles. 

The Timberwolves are 20th in the NBA in points per game and first in points per game allowed. If Minnesota can improve offensively in the second half of the season, the team could make serious noise in the 2024 playoffs. 

Edwards was the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Georgia. He has career averages of 22.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

If the Timberwolves don’t go on a deep run in the 2024 playoffs, Towns or Rudy Gobert could get traded. Towns or Gobert have to be traded for the Timberwolves to avoid paying a massive luxury tax bill under the new CBA.