Chris Finch has made defence the requirement for Anthony Edwards to make an MVP leap in the 2026-27 NBA season, asking the guard to re-establish himself as a high-leverage defender and to trim his on-ball offensive load. The Minnesota Timberwolves head coach outlined the plan in a recent interview with Britt Robson at MinnPost, detailing the defensive standard he expects.
The assessment, which ties an MVP-calibre year to a stronger defensive component and reduced creation duties, was published by TalkBasket and ClutchPoints — NBA.
Defensive standard and offensive adjustment
Finch said Edwards needs to return to impacting winning possessions defensively and that the team will reduce his handling responsibilities after he carried a heavy offensive workload in 2025-26.
Context for Minnesota in 2026-27
The message comes in the run-up to NBA 2026/27, with Minnesota Timberwolves setting roles before tip-off, prioritising two-way impact to raise the team's ceiling.
