Statements without saying a word: Anthony Edwards is what NBA fans deserve

Edwards shows up when other stars frequently pull the rest card.

There is so much talent in the NBA that it's difficult to pick just one player as the face of the league. LeBron James is winding down his legendary career, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are both 35 years old, Jimmy Butler is 34, Damian Lillard is 33 and Ja Morant's 25-game gun suspension has knocked him from the top. 

There are established superstars like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker who stand tall as the best of the best, but 22-year-old Anthony Edwards is rapidly ascending as the next great – and his actions are as loud as his game.

Edwards and all of the aforementioned star players put up big numbers every time they step on the court, but Edwards is doing what few seem inclined to do in an age of rest and recovery. Every night, banged up or not, the Ant Man shows up and shows out, giving an effort that thousands of fans hope to see when they spend hard-earned money on tickets. 

“Man, we ain’t nothing without the fans. We’re gonna keep trying to put on a show for y’all!" Edwards said after Minnesota beat Philadelphia on Nov. 22. 

Nov 22, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) looks to pass against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter at Target Center.  / Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota basketball fans know all too well the disappointment of spending big money only for the day-of-game letdown news that a superstar is sitting out. You know, those dreaded rest days that always seem to happen in Minneapolis. 

Zion Williamson routinely misses games in Minnesota for rest. Jimmy Butler rarely plays when he returns to Target Center. Joel Embiid sat out the second end of a back-to-back in Minnesota in that Nov. 22 contest. It keeps happening despite the league establishing new guidelines that are supposed to protect fans by preventing players from sitting out away games when they're healthy. 

Sunday night in bluesy Memphis was an opportunity for Edwards to play the rest card against the three-win Grizzlies, but he showed up and played 34 minutes despite just hours before the game being downgraded to questionable because of back spasms. He had an actual excuse not to play but he backed up his words, proving that he cares about the fans. 

“Ant is a fierce competitor,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said after Edwards and Minnesota crushed the shorthanded Grizzlies. “He's a gamer. He loves to play He's not somebody who is ever looking for a reason not to play. I was very pleased and proud of him for battling through.”

"He's usually going to try to play through everything regardless," Finch added. 

Edwards fell hard to the court in Minnesota's win over the Thunder Tuesday night. His status going forward is unclear since he didn't return to the game, but nothing about his history says he'll take time off unless it's absolutely necessary. 

What more could the league want than a player like Edwards to lead the way? He's young, charismatic, extremely talented, vocal, funny and the captain of the U.S. national team. Most importantly, he shows up. 

As the Timberwolves keep winning, more respect will come -- perhaps on the same level that other young stars like Luka, Booker and Tatum receive. And with more wins, maybe opposing teams will take Minnesota seriously and circle dates in Minneapolis as no rest nights against one of the league's top teams.