The Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Western Conference Finals with a commanding 4-1 series win. In the process, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showcased the qualities that earned him the NBA MVP award this season and proved instrumental in his team’s victory. According to head coach Chris Finch, this could serve as an important lesson for Anthony Edwards.
During this week’s exit interview, Finch was asked about the areas Edwards needs to develop to take the next step in his career. “I think for areas of improvement for him is just going to be along I think the game route, really,” the coach began. “I think he’s got to also kind of figure out a bit of a closing package, and we have to help him there. You know what shots and places on the floor can he repeatedly get to.”
Chris then dove deeper into one specific element of the game that the Ant-Man should start paying closer attention to. “Foul drawing. I think you see right now in the league, like you know, you see what gets rewarded, and you need to kind of lean into that a little bit,” explained the Timberwolves HC, clearly referencing Shai—without naming him directly.
“Even though it’s not necessarily how he likes to play but it seems to be effective, so I think it’s a little bit more about a kind of grey matter than it is any kind of you know, of course, adding some skill is always important,” Finch added, making it clear that even if it’s not the most appealing style to Edwards, it’s something he’ll need to work on.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with head coach Chris Finch during a game against the Golden State Warriors on May 12, 2025
Anthony Edwards’ numbers this season
The final image of the Timberwolves’ campaign—falling in five games to OKC and being clearly outplayed on the court—shouldn’t overshadow what was, for months, a strong performance that brought plenty of joy to fans. And that goes not just for the team, but for Edwards specifically.
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The shooting guard led Minnesota in scoring during the regular season with 27.6 points per game, ranking fifth in the league behind only other superstars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic. He also averaged 5.7 rebounds and was the team’s second-leading assist man with 4.5 per game, just behind Julius Randle’s 4.7.
In the playoffs, the Ant-Man’s production dipped slightly, finishing with 25.3 points per game (11th overall). On the flip side, he improved his assist numbers (5.5) and rebounding (7.8).
The Edwards-Shai comparison
Finch’s emphasis on foul drawing as an area where Edwards needs to improve is no coincidence. Despite the criticism and mockery Gilgeous-Alexander has received for his persistent effort to draw fouls and earn trips to the free-throw line, that approach has been a major weapon for the reigning league MVP all season.
Shai was the NBA’s scoring champion, and a big part of that came from his proficiency at the line. The Canadian guard led the league in free throws made during the regular season, averaging 7.9 per game. He ranked third in attempts with 8.8 and shot 89.8% from the stripe.
Edwards, by comparison, shot 83.7% from the free-throw line. He finished 16th in the regular season in both free throws made (5.3) and attempted (6.3)—a clear gap when measured against Shai.
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