The Minnesota Timberwolves are making headlines as they sit just one win away from knocking out the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA playoffs, leading the series 3-1. While Anthony Edwards has been the standout star during this run, he’s quick to share credit with his teammates—and his leadership off the court may be just as crucial as his performance on it.
Edwards has emerged not only as the Timberwolves’ offensive engine but also as their emotional and motivational anchor. Earlier this season, he delivered a powerful message to his teammates that now seems prophetic in light of their playoff success. As recalled by teammate Naz Reid, Edwards told the squad, “If I don’t do something, hold me accountable. I can’t sit here and hold y’all accountable if I don’t hold myself accountable.”
That statement has resonated deeply within the team, setting a tone of mutual responsibility that has carried into the postseason. This self-driven culture of accountability is now yielding major results as Minnesota puts serious pressure on the Lakers—once considered heavy favorites to win the series.
While Edwards has consistently delivered top-tier performances, he hasn’t been alone. Key players like Reid, Julius Randle, and Jaden McDaniels have stepped up when it mattered most, providing clutch plays and solid defense to support the team’s push. McDaniels, in particular, has capitalized on the Lakers’ defensive lapses, especially against Luka Doncic.
The Timberwolves aren’t strangers to high-stakes basketball. Having reached the Western Conference Finals just last year, they entered this year’s playoffs hungry and more prepared. But few predicted they’d dominate the Lakers so decisively. The Lakers’ struggles on defense and inability to match Minnesota’s physicality have shifted the narrative—and the momentum.
As the series heads back to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Lakers are clinging to hope, bolstered by a home-court advantage. But the Timberwolves have already shown they can win on the road, and Edwards’ rallying cry has his team locked in and laser-focused.
The Timberwolves have the Lakers on the ropes—and it all started with one leader demanding accountability not just from his team, but from himself.
