Anthony Edwards Sets Sights on LeBron James After Passing Timberwolves Record
Sporting News · July 24, 2026
Key takeaways
- Anthony Edwards recently passed a significant Timberwolves career milestone.
- Instead of celebrating, Edwards immediately set his sights on catching LeBron James.
- The comments reflect Edwards' broader ambition to be the NBA's next face-of-the-league star.
Anthony Edwards doesn't do quiet milestones. After passing a significant career mark within the Timberwolves record books, Ant made it clear his next target isn't a franchise number — it's LeBron James.
What Actually Happened
Edwards climbed past a notable statistical threshold for Minnesota, cementing his status as one of the most productive young stars the franchise has ever had. But instead of basking in the achievement, Edwards pivoted the conversation immediately toward the bigger picture: closing the gap on LeBron James, the player who's defined the league's competitive standard for over two decades.
It's a bold move, but it's also very on-brand for Edwards, who has never been shy about naming his ambitions out loud. He's talked openly about wanting to be the face of the NBA, and comparing himself — even aspirationally — to LeBron is part of that larger campaign.
Why Ant Is Looking at LeBron
LeBron James remains the measuring stick for greatness in this era. Longevity, scoring totals, playoff success, cultural impact — LeBron checks every box, and any young star with real ambition eventually has to reckon with that shadow. Edwards doing it publicly, right after passing a Timberwolves milestone, sends a signal: he's not satisfied being a great Timberwolf. He wants to be great, period.
Edwards has already shown flashes of that ceiling — explosive scoring nights, deep playoff runs with Minnesota, and a swagger that draws obvious comparisons to superstar-level self-belief. Whether he can actually approach LeBron's statistical and historical footprint is a decades-long question, but the mindset shift matters now.
What This Means Going Forward
For Timberwolves fans, this is exactly the kind of hunger you want from your franchise cornerstone. Edwards isn't coasting on being the best player in Minnesota history — he's using that as a stepping stone. Expect this comment to fuel offseason training, motivate a big year-over-year jump in his game, and add another layer to the ongoing story of Edwards as the NBA's likely next face-of-the-league candidate.
It also raises the stakes for Minnesota. If Ant is serious about chasing LeBron-level greatness, the front office needs to build a roster that can support deep playoff runs, not just regular-season success. The pressure is now mutual — on Edwards to perform, and on the Wolves to build around him.
Bottom line: passing a franchise record was just a checkpoint. LeBron James is the real target, and Anthony Edwards wants everyone to know it.
Why it matters
Anthony Edwards is emerging as one of the NBA's most compelling young superstars, and his public ambition to chase LeBron James signals a shift in how the league's next generation views greatness. For Timberwolves fans, it's a sign their franchise player isn't settling for regional success.
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