“Group of young players”: NBA star Anthony Edwards sprays teammates following fourth consecutive defeat

Anthony Edwards has always been outspoken during his four years in the NBA, never hesitating to voice his opinions, especially when things aren’t going well for his team. After the Minnesota Timberwolves’ tough 115-104 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Edwards didn’t hold back in a brutally honest and profanity-filled assessment of his team’s recent performance.

“We’re soft as a team, internally,” Edwards stated bluntly. “Not towards the other teams, but inside, we’re soft. We can’t communicate with each other. It feels like we’re playing with a bunch of little kids. The whole team, from top to bottom. We’ve got to figure this out, because if we keep going down this road, it’s only going to get worse.”

After making it to the 2024 Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves were expected to build on their success. However, the team has now lost four consecutive games and seven of their last nine, a far cry from their promising 6-3 start to the season. The Timberwolves, who made a significant roster change in the offseason by trading Karl-Anthony Towns, are still struggling with team chemistry, and it’s showing on the court.

This lack of cohesion was evident in their loss to Sacramento, where they squandered a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. The defeat came just one day after they suffered a heartbreaking 117-111 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets at home. Edwards didn’t mince words when analyzing the team’s lack of fight in these critical moments, calling out the squad for their failure to step up during tough stretches of the game.

“We looked like front-runners tonight,” Edwards explained. “When we were down, nobody said anything. But when we were up, everyone was cheering. Then when we went down again, nobody had anything to say. That’s the definition of being a front-runner—only showing up when things are going well.”

Edwards also pointed to the team’s lack of unity as one of the key reasons for their recent struggles. “Right now, everybody is on different agendas, and that’s a big reason why we’re losing,” he said. “The fans are booing us. That’s insane. Getting booed in our own arena is so disrespectful, it’s crazy.”

Despite the disappointing loss, Edwards did his best to lead by example, scoring a team-high 29 points in the defeat. His passionate words reflect a larger issue with the Timberwolves’ internal dynamics, as they look to regain their early-season momentum and avoid a prolonged slump. With Edwards speaking candidly about the need for change, it’s clear that the Timberwolves need to figure things out—both on and off the court—if they want to meet their preseason expectations.