Kevin Garnett says Anthony Edwards an MVP candidate, Wolves a "force"

"I got Ant man in the MVP conversation."

© Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Edwards an MVP? Timberwolves a force to be reckoned with? The praise and hype continue to be piled on Minnesota after a start to the season that has them fighting at the top of the Western Conference.

Speaking on the latest edition of KG Certified, legendary Wolves big man Kevin Garnett was emphatic about Ant's place in the MVP conversation and how good the Wolves are this season.

"I told you. I saw that Ant Man was working this month," KG told former Celtics teammate Paul Pierce. "Ant Man want all the smoke. He's an early MVP with me. I'm just watching his temperature. Luca [Doncic], I got Ant man in there, I got [Nikola Jokic] in there. Them three right there playing different. They got that 'it.' You've got to throw Giannis [Antetokounmpo] in there. Giannis dang near averaging 44 [points per game] this last week."

KG's praise is just the latest in a string of recent national talking heads to jump on the Wolves' bandwagon with The Ringer's Bill Simmons declaring "This is real" and ESPN's Zach Lowe asking if the Wolves are a championship contender.

"Ant Man and the Timberwolves, they're looking that forced to be reckoned with," KG continued. "I think ever since Steve Kerr came out and told the man he wasn't going to take him first, he been taking it personal."

Pierce was left questioning that final statement from Garnett. Edwards was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft and as KG tells it, that could have been different if Golden State had that pick instead.

"He worked out for Golden State, Steve Kerr thought he was bull-[bleeping] the workout. [Ant] was like 'I'm going as hard as I can go.' Kerr was like 'Well, that ain't goin to work and if we got the first pick ain't picking you.' That stayed in Ant's head. He ain't forgot that. I watched him play and he giving extra smoke to Golden State." said Garnett.

The Anthony Edwards, Wolves conversation starts at the 19:05 mark in the video below.

"The young boys got a lot of confidence in Minnesota and they got that thing called belief," Garnett said shifting focus to the Wolves' hot start and whether it can continue.

"I said Anthony Edwards, for this team to get to the next level, need to be the guy," Pierce responded. "And that's what he's showing me. For this team to get to the next level Ant Man needs to become a superstar and that what we're seeing right now."

Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns lead the Wolves to a 117-110 win over the Knicks Monday night to keep their undefeated start at home alive, and stay a half-game above Denver for the top spot in the West.

"I got Ant man in the MVP conversation," said Garnett.