Anthony Edwards receives words of caution from Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade ahead of 2025-26 NBA season

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has taken the league by storm, establishing himself as one of the NBA’s brightest young talents. After leading his team to back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, the 24-year-old guard is being asked to raise the bar once again.

Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade recently weighed in, offering a candid assessment of Edwards’ game and where he must improve if Minnesota hopes to take the next step.

Dwyane Wade calls for growth in Anthony Edwards’ game

In a recent episode of his Time Out, Wade explains that Anthony Edwards can’t afford to plateau after another postseason exit. “Minnesota, they were at a deficit when the series started because of who they were playing against,” Wade said. “But you also went to the Western Conference finals last year.

I need to see something better than the performance I see.”

Wade pointed out that Edwards must expand his scoring arsenal, stressing that “Ant’s going to have to go in the lab this summer.” He explained that relying on high pick-and-rolls isn’t enough, urging the Timberwolves guard to develop in areas like post play, catch-and-shoot opportunities, and off-ball movement. “Because leaving that young man out there at half court to come off those pick-and-rolls, taking those long a** strides, you going to wear him down,” Wade added.

The Minnesota Timberwolves believe Anthony Edwards is ready for an MVP leap

Despite Wade’s warnings, the Minnesota Timberwolves remain confident their franchise superstar will make the leap. General manager Matt Lloyd recently praised Edwards’ discipline and growth. “So, um, we cannot guarantee much in life, but I can guarantee he’s going to have a great year,” Lloyd told FOX 9.Lloyd highlighted Edwards’ relentless work ethic, pointing out that he’s logged over 3,600 shots in practice since July and is in peak physical shape at just 3.5 percent body fat.Also Read: Why Mark Cuban defends Steve Ballmer amid bombshell report of Los Angeles Clippers’ circumvention of NBA salary cap tying to Kawhi LeonardEdwards already averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists last season, proving he can compete with the NBA’s elite. But the challenge ahead appears to be becoming a more complete scorer to close the gap with stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić. If Edwards can blend his three-point shooting with a stronger mid-range and post-up game, he may finally elevate Minnesota from contender to champion.