The lessons extended beyond the court. After winning gold, the team popped champagne on a set of steps that produced a viral photo earlier in the tournament. Edwards joined the fray, but it was clear that he was not as experienced in the art of spraying the bubbly as some of his championship-winning teammates. “C’mon, Ant,” James teased. “We know you ain’t been there, yet.” That “yet” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the hearts of Timberwolves fans who believe they finally have the No. 1 option capable of bringing them a title. For two rounds in last season’s playoffs, the Wolves looked primed for a championship run. They swept Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns out of the conference quarterfinals, then rallied from 20 points down in Game 7 to beat the Denver Nuggets to advance to their second conference finals in franchise history. They were summarily dispatched by the Dallas Mavericks there, showing that a team still light on deep playoff experience had more to learn before making the final step. -via New York Times / August 15, 2024