Anthony Edwards has unlocked a new weapon: the three-pointer.
Edwards has made the most three-pointers (58) in the NBA so far this season. He averages 11.4 attempts per game, converting 4.8 of them, which puts him at 42.6% from beyond the arc. That’s significantly higher than the league average of around 35%. Elite three-point shooters typically hover around 40%, meaning Edwards is solidifying himself as one of the best in the league.
Three Pointers Are Up League Wide
The increase in three-point attempts is part of a league-wide trend.
For context, NBA teams averaged about 35 three-point attempts per game last season; that number has risen to 37 this season, marking the largest year-over-year jump in half a decade. Teams took note of the Celtics’ success, as Boston averaged nearly 43 three-pointers per game last season. Many are striving to replicate that success. Even with the rise in league-wide three-point attempts, Edwards’ increase is still notably drastic. He’s shooting five more threes a game this year than he did last year.
After a standout performance in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on November 8th, (where he dropped 37 points, including an impressive 9-of-15 from beyond the arc) Anthony Edwards shared insights into his three-point shooting with reporters in the locker room. He highlighted his Olympic experience and the opportunity to work alongside some of the game’s best, including Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Edwards revealed he had studied their shooting mechanics, but notably, it was Damian Lillard‘s form that he chose to take from.
In addition to these personal influences, Edwards also shed light on the evolving defensive strategies teams are deploying against him. He explained how defenders are opting to go under screens, likely out of fear of him attacking the basket. Ironically, this defensive shift has been a boon for his perimeter game, creating more space for him to launch those deadly threes. It seems that while defenses may be trying to adjust, they may have unwittingly provided Edwards with the very room he needs to sharpen his long-range abilities.
Anthony Edwards PnR pull-up 3 pic.twitter.com/X6qb1zBHnb
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) November 9, 2024
Trade Impact
Edwards’ increased three-point volume can also be attributed to changes on the Timberwolves’ roster.
With Karl-Anthony Towns—one of the league’s top three-point shooters—no longer on the team, the Timberwolves have had to fill the void left in KAT’s absence. Edwards has stepped up to take on more of that responsibility this season.
But it’s not just Towns’ departure that’s contributing to Edwards’ elevated three-point shooting. The playmaking ability of his new teammate, Julius Randle, has also created more opportunities. Randle’s knack for driving into the paint and kicking out to open shooters gives Edwards additional, quality looks from beyond the arc.
Additionally, with Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley struggling to find his shot this year, there’s been plenty of room for Edwards to pick up the slack. This combination of roster changes and shifting responsibilities has opened up more space for Edwards to flourish as the primary long-range shooter.
Edwards’ emergence as a prolific three-point shooter will undoubtedly benefit both him and the Timberwolves moving forward. His shooting ability creates more space for the team to operate offensively. It forces defenses to make a difficult choice: either give Edwards room to shoot by going under screens, or crowd him and risk allowing him to use his incredible athleticism to blow by defenders and finish at the rim. Either way, Edwards’ versatility makes him a constant threat, keeping defenses on their toes.
Can Edwards Sustain This?
The big question is whether Edwards’ increase in three-point attempts—and improved efficiency—will be sustainable.
If so, what could that mean for both his game and the Timberwolves’ success? Could he rise to become the best three-point shooter in the NBA and eventually take the torch from an aging Steph Curry? And if he does, could that propel the Timberwolves to the top of the league’s power rankings?
On the other hand, there’s the possibility that this current hot streak could cool off, with Edwards reverting to being a good, but streaky, three-point shooter. While the signs so far suggest that this improvement is sustainable, it remains to be seen if shooting at such a high volume and efficiency is realistic over the long term.
Here’s Edwards’ response to those who say he’s shooting too many threes…
Asked Anthony Edwards what he would say to someone who thinks he's shooting too many 3s… pic.twitter.com/NITAeEVGi7
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) November 2, 2024
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