Overview
- The Timberwolves have won four straight games and sit 8-3 overall with a 5-2 record without Anthony Edwards, a stretch that has kept Minnesota competitive while Edwards recovers.
- Ball has averaged roughly 25 points, 5.5 assists and about 1.5 steals during the run, has scored at least 20 points in each game, and made 17 three-pointers across the four contests.
- All-Star guard Anthony Edwards underwent knee surgery on Oct. 29 and is projected to miss about two months while the team leans on Ball to carry on-court leadership.
- LaMelo posted an Instagram clip that paired commentators’ past criticism with his recent highlights and captioned it, “I think I caught a buzz,” directly answering long-running doubters.
- The public pushback has drawn high-profile support, with Dwyane Wade calling the criticism lazy, and prompted fresh scrutiny of the offseason trade that sent Ball to Minnesota and moved pieces to Charlotte.