The Minnesota Timberwolves are trailing 0-2 in the Western Conference Finals, but Anthony Edwards is proving why he remains a key presence on the team. Despite a painful ankle injury, Edwards fought through discomfort to stay on the court, delivering a strong and gusty performance. This led him to be compared with one of basketball’s most durable stars, Lebron James.
Edwards exited Game 1 early with a sore right ankle. The 22-year-old returned to finish the game and managed 18 points in 36 minutes, which was low for his standards. Still, his commitment to playing with the injury was not negligible.
“It is a tweaked right ankle strain, but not enough for him to have an actual designation on the injury report. He has this uncanny ability to play through pain. It reminds him a lot of LeBron James in the way both guys can have these ugly injuries… and then 15 minutes later, they’re able to bounce right back,” NBA insider Shams Charania said.
fdkjgherglekil pic.twitter.com/G7UTo5ER2b
— Diamond Dog (@DiamondDogzzz) May 23, 2025
That resilience was on full display in Game 2. Although Minnesota fell 118-103 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Edwards posted 32 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and had six assists. He shot 46.2% from the field. The performance, even though less than 100%, became the bright spot on a night when the Timberwolves struggled to generate consistent offense.
Anthony Edwards Shows Lebron James Like Toughness In A Critical Series
Despite the struggling series, Edwards’ physical toughness draws admiration from league insiders. According to one executive, Anthony Edwards’s efficiency and determination in his game, even with the pain, mirror LeBron James’s image.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Lebron James has long set the gold standard for durability in the NBA, quickly returning from injuries with little drop in his performance. Edwards, at the age of 23, shows the same thoughtfulness. He hasn’t won a title yet, but this ability to stay on the court and lead makes him stand out.
With game 3 coming up Sunday night in Minneapolis, Edwards is not looking underconfident; he is all ready to fight back, and his sore ankle won’t stop him.
