Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave high praise to Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards ahead of their upcoming first-round playoff matchup.
Redick, speaking to reporters during pre-series preparations, emphasized the 23-year-old’s scoring evolution this season.
“He found his game this year in particular,” Redick said when asked what stands out about Edwards’ performance.
Edwards is posting career highs with 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while playing 36.3 minutes a night.
Redick pointed to the fifth-year guard’s three-point shooting as a game-changer.
“The thing that jumps out at you is the three-point volume — his ability to make shots at a really high level off the bounce,” Redick explained.
He listed Edwards’ efficiency in pick-and-roll, isolation, and transition situations, noting that few players combine such shot variety with accuracy near 40 percent from deep.
“That unlocks a lot,” Redick added.
The Lakers will be facing a Timberwolves team that finished 49-33 and ranked top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, placing them sixth in the Western Conference.
“They’re a better team than 49 wins,” Redick said, referencing their strong two-way metrics.
Redick also addressed the challenge of Minnesota’s size, led by Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, suggesting possible lineup adjustments.
“Like any playoff series, you’re going to prepare for Game 1 and try to win Game 1,” Redick said. “From there, it’s adjustment after adjustment.”
As a first-year head coach, Redick credited assistants Greg St. Jean and Zach Guthrie (referred to as “Wex”) for helping him organize his approach to the series.
He admitted the process reminded him of the whirlwind after taking the job — juggling the draft, free agency, and Summer League simultaneously.
The Lakers finished the regular season 50-32, earning the No. 3 seed and winning 12 of their last 15 games.
“We’ve been very intentional since last week about how we wanted this week to look — what we present to the team and when,” Redick said of the team’s planning.
The best-of-seven series tips off Saturday, with Los Angeles looking to carry momentum into Game 1.
