Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo is backing the new Minnesota Timberwolves backcourt of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball over the Los Angeles Lakers pairing of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, predicting an exciting season for the duo on and off the court.
Asked to choose between the two backcourts, Adebayo acknowledged the quality of Doncic and Reaves before selecting Minnesota’s combination.
“That’s tough cause you’ve seen Luka and Reaves play. I’ll say Ant and LaMelo,” Adebayo said.
The Heat center also highlighted the entertainment value of pairing Edwards and Ball, suggesting their personalities could make Minnesota particularly interesting to follow.
“I feel like they’re gonna be exciting for [the Wolves]… Everything off the court is gonna be hilarious. The off the court media training, hilarious,” Adebayo added.
Minnesota made a major move this offseason by acquiring Ball from the Charlotte Hornets in a four-team trade on June 25. The Timberwolves sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Naz Reid to Charlotte as part of the deal, reshaping their roster around Edwards and their new point guard.
Edwards remains Minnesota’s leading scorer after averaging 28.8 points per game in 61 appearances during the 2025-26 season. The 25-year-old also recorded 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 48.9% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range.
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The pairing gives Minnesota two guards capable of creating shots and initiating offense, although their defensive fit and the changes to the frontcourt remain important questions. The Timberwolves traded away both Randle and Reid, leaving Rudy Gobert with less established frontcourt support.
Minnesota also locked Ayo Dosunmu on a five-year, $112 million contract and signed Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year deal, further changing the supporting cast around Edwards and Ball.
Adebayo’s comments suggest that the personalities of the two guards are part of the appeal. Edwards is known for his outspoken demeanor, while Ball brings his own distinctive personality and style to the league.
Doncic and Reaves offer a different kind of partnership in Los Angeles. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 64 games during the 2025-26 season, shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range.
Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 appearances. He shot 49.0% overall and 36.0% from beyond the arc, providing another scoring and playmaking option alongside Doncic.
The Lakers rebuilt their roster around the pair after LeBron James departed for Philadelphia, adding players including Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
