Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards said his team failed to build championship habits during the regular season following a playoff exit.
The admission comes as the franchise grapples with a disappointing second-round exit, raising questions about the team's culture and leadership heading into the offseason.
The Timberwolves were eliminated in Game 6 of their second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. The loss occurred in the Spurs' home arena and was a lopsided affair, with San Antonio defeating Minnesota 139-109 [1].
Edwards said the disparity between the two teams during the elimination game was clear. He said "the better team" won [2]. He attributed the failure to a lack of disciplined, championship-level habits that he believes were never developed throughout the regular season [2], [4].
"We didn't build championship habits during the regular season," Edwards said [1].
The blowout loss highlighted factors that were within the team's control, according to analysis of the game [4]. While Edwards took a candid approach to the team's shortcomings, not everyone praised the transparency. Udonis Haslem, a veteran known for his tenure with the Miami Heat, criticized the star's public openness about the team's flaws.
"I would not show that weakness," Haslem said [1].
The Timberwolves now enter the offseason needing to address these systemic issues if they hope to contend for a title in future years. The gap in execution during the high-pressure environment of Game 6 served as a stark reminder of the difference between a talented roster and a championship-ready squad.
“"We didn't build championship habits during the regular season"”
Edwards' comments signal a shift in accountability within the Timberwolves locker room. By attributing the loss to regular-season habits rather than a single bad game, the star guard is suggesting that the team's failure was a result of a systemic lack of discipline. This internal critique may lead to changes in how the team approaches training and preparation in the upcoming season.
