His standout performances, particularly during the 2024 NBA Playoffs, have earned him praise from fans and analysts alike. On Wednesday, Edwards’ incredible season landed him seventh place in the NBA MVP voting results, an incredible feat for a 22-year-old kid.

The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. pic.twitter.com/Dqbd7MaRjC

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 8, 2024

Edwards didn’t secure any top spot votes, but he did earn one second place vote, a third place vote, and one fourth place vote. Despite his impressive performance, Ant found himself edged out by a formidable lineup of NBA stars including Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, and Jayson Tatum.

With Jokic securing the MVP title, Edwards now eyes a chance for redemption in the playoffs. The Timberwolves currently hold a 2-0 lead against Jokic’s Nuggets, setting the stage for an intense postseason battle where Edwards aims to showcase his skills and lead his team to history.

Anthony Edwards Continuing To Create History

Kevin Garnett stands as the sole MVP recipient in the history of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but that’s likely to change soon as Edwards’ star continues to rise. Already positioned at 6th in franchise points with 6,920, he’s on the cusp of surpassing Kevin Love’s 6,989 for the 5th spot.

MVP activity goin on in Sota #AntMan

— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) April 20, 2024

As Anthony Edwards heads towards the conclusion of his rookie contract this season, Timberwolves supporters are buzzing with excitement for the commencement of his new five-year, $204 million deal next year. With ambitions of capturing the MVP title and shattering franchise records, Edwards is poised to become a dominant force on the court.

Related: Anthony Edwards’ Kicks Are Living in the Limelight

As the current season progresses and the Timberwolves strive for championship glory, fans are urged to relish every moment of Edwards’ journey chasing a tile, something Kevin Garnett never experienced during his time in Minnesota.

KG Certified: Kevin Garnett disgusted by lack of Anthony Edwards MVP hype

On his show ‘KG Certified‘ with Paul Pierce, Garnett picked Anthony Edwards as his mid-season MVP and expressed his disappointment that Ant isn’t on more lists. National basketball pundits might find KG’s pick shocking, but he’s right, there’s nothing controversial about having Edwards as your MVP, to this point of the season.

KG picks Anthony Edwards as his MVP halfway through the season. 💯 pic.twitter.com/EzrmdEmn1y

— The Daily Wolves (@TheDailyWolves) January 22, 2024

“Another kid that don’t get the press: Anthony Edwards, bro. Anthony Edwards, and he’s my pick for MVP early. Hear me out. You know why? Boy, you got a closer. You got a closer. You got a ***** who ain’t running from no pressure! He want the shot and he can get y’all into fouls early. He can make plays. He can play off [the ball], he can play on [the ball]. Bro, you need a ***** like Anthony Edwards, bro!”

“When you going against four, five stars. When you Superman, you looking at the three goddamn villains, bro you need an Anthony Edwards. He’s helping KAT, he’s pushing the whole thing. Bro, they number one in defense! And they figured out that Twin Towers shit, you hear me? So, I feel like [Ant] and [Jayson] Tatum as the number one teams in the league, they don’t get enough press bro.”

Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Takes Backhanded Shot at Anthony Edwards on Instagram

Ant is THE GUY for the Minnesota Timberwolves…

But it shouldn’t be. Not only is he the best player on the best team in the Western Conference THE GUY for the best team in the Western Conference. When the Minnesota Timberwolves need an MVP moment, they give the ball to Ant.

And, outside of two ugly missed free throws and some lame excuses last week after a loss vs OKC, he’s delivered more times than not. Edwards shouldn’t be a surprise pick for MVP at the halfway point. He’s been that and more.

alllllll the Ant highlights from last night.

⭐️ » https://t.co/adpbBYDQ4T pic.twitter.com/dTblzFuKKc

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 19, 2024

Not only is he back to being the most feared defender in the NBA, but Rudy’s activity on the offensive glass and his ability to run the floor in transition have made him nearly as important to what the Wolves are doing on offense too.

Rudy Gobert last 5 games…

18 PTS | 16 RBS | 5 ORBS | 3.6 BLKS | 70% FG | 80% FT

He's been doing it at both ends all season… pic.twitter.com/MVlxP2wu4Z

— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) December 9, 2023

Rudy Gobert for MVP?

How well is Gobert playing? Well, players, fans, analysts and media members around the league have taken notice and Twitter can sometimes feel like a Rudy Gobert hype machine that’s seconds away from self-combusting.

Related: Timberwolves Just Had the Best Month of Any Non-Football Pro Team in MN Sports History

Just about everyone has him back in front of the pack for Defensive Player of the Year. Others have taken their views on Rudy’s game to another level… an MVP level even.

Rudy Gobert is playing at an MVP level. Debate your mother not me. He's playing like he wants to win a ring this year. Might mess around and get it.

— Jamal Timb3r (@Timb3r_Wolf) December 9, 2023

DPOY is great and all…

But how about Rudy Gobert for MVP?

👀👀

— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) December 9, 2023

Rudy Gobert in just 30 minutes tonight

16 Points
90.1% TS
21 Rebounds
2 Blocks
Held Wemby to 4-13 shooting and the Spurs to 94 points as a team

Another game as the Wolves’ best player yet Ant gets all the MVP hype pic.twitter.com/GlAOJ7yyy1

— dean 🦂 (@DeanScorpion_) December 7, 2023

It’s no surprise that most of Rudy’s MVP hype is coming locally. Beyond the local bias, Timberwolves fans and media members watch Gobert and the Wolves play far more often and a lot closer than those nationally.

So, let’s take a deeper dive. Is the Rudy Gobert MVP hype legitimate? Does he deserve to be in that conversation? Does he have any real chance at winning?

Gobert Leads DPOY Odds at +150, Anthony Davis Trails at +600

Let’s start with Defensive Player of the Year, where the towering 7-foot-1 center is far and away the favorite to win. He currently holds the leading odds (+150) on prominent sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings, with Anthony Davis trailing as the closest (but not really close) competitor (+600).

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns Revival Means Everything for Timberwolves Future

Okay, so get on with it. What about MVP? Does Rudy Gobert really have a chance to win NBA Most Valuable Player, just one year after he was being called the NBA’s Herschel Walker of blockbuster trades?

Rudy Gobert’s MVP Chances, Overlooked by Some Betting Books

Well, if you really believe it can happen, now would be a really good time to put your money where your mouth is. Though you might find it challenging at most sportsbooks. Not only is sports betting still illegal in Minnesota but, even if you can place legal bets, finding a sportsbook to take one on Gobert for MVP might prove difficult.

Neither FanDuel or DraftKings have Gobert on their MVP betting slips. I did find them at Bet365.com, where you can get him for… wait for it… +20000. That means, for those who aren’t degenerate gamblers, that betting $100 on Gobert winning MVP would pay out $20,000 if it hit.

In Gobert’s defense, those odds are better than his teammate Karl-Anthony Towns’ (+30000). Anthony Edwards, who these sportsbooks see as the Timberwolves only semi-realistic MVP candidate right now, is +3000. Nikola Jokic is the current NBA MVP favorite on most sites, at around +185 (FanDuel).

Emerging as Potential Team MVP Despite Edwards’ Higher Betting Odds

Even if Anthony Edwards has better odds of winning league MVP, Gobert will have a really good argument for team MVP if the Minnesota Timberwolves continue winning like they have to start the season.

Related: Twins and Bally Sports North are Done; Wolves and Wild are Next

When Edwards went out last week with a hip injury and missed games against Utah and Charlotte, his absence was hardly noticeable. Not with Gobert controlling games on defense and pushing his limits on the offense. He, Towns and Conley just over and everyone slots in around them.

On Friday night vs the Grizzlies, Edwards re-injured his hip injury early on. So, Gobert stepped up and delivered a 16 points, 20 rebound (9 on the offensive glass), 6 blocks performance as the Wolves walked to another 20+ point victory. 

Rudy Gobert is not only playing like the Defensive player of the year, he’s playing like an MVP. pic.twitter.com/DoznvrtJ9D

— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) December 9, 2023

Powering Timberwolves and MVP Hopes with Outstanding Play

Rudy Gobert’s impact on the Minnesota Timberwolves is undeniable, both in the race for individual accolades and the team’s overall success. As he leads the charge in the Defensive Player of the Year race, his exceptional contributions should make him a formidable contender for MVP, whether the rest of the basketball world sees it or not.

Read all of our blogs about the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Denver Post asked NBA big men around the league three basic questions, in an effort to find out who what they thought of Nikola Jokic and the MVP race between him and Embiid. No anonymity allowed.

1. Who’s the tougher player to guard, Jokic or Embiid?
2. What makes Nikola Jokic so tough to stop?
3. Who’s the MVP?

KAT’s Real MVP

The front court players surveyed included Rudy Gobert, Wendell Carter Jr, Draymond Green, Domantas Sabonis and Karl-Anthony Towns, among others.

But it was KAT’s answer to question 3, which asked about the NBA’s MVP race, that I found interesting. If he were choosing the league’s most valuable player, neither Jokic or Embiid would be the winner. Instead, Towns said he would the award to himself.

“I’m gonna give it to myself because that’s who I feel is the MVP.”

KAT on his choice for NBA MVP (Denver Post)

The Numbers Say…

It doesn’t take that much research before you realize that Karl-Anthony Towns is wrong. The stats just don’t agree with his assertion, no matter where you look. And the deeper you go, it becomes easier and easier to hand the MVP Award to Nikola Jokic.

Of all the major statistical category, Karl-Anthony Towns beats Jokic and Embiid in just one, defensive rating. When it comes to points, rebounds, assists, offensive rating, win shares, usage, etc., one of the other two big men (often both) are better than KAT.

Still Love KAT’s Answer

But who gives a fuck what the numbers say. Or what other players, coaches, media or I say. Karl-Anthony Towns should believe he is the Most Valuable Player. This isn’t David vs Goliath. KAT absolutely belongs in the conversation as the NBA’s best big man, especially now that the Minnesota Timberwolves are winning games.

And he is just as important to his team as anybody else in the league is to theirs. If Karl is going to reach his full ceiling of potential, he will need the type of confidence he displayed in his “who’s the MVP” answer. Because if KAT doesn’t believe he’s the best big man in the NBA then he never will be.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan