Anthony Edwards Passionately Defends Karl-Anthony Towns After Reporter Called Him A 'Stat-Stuffer'

Karl-Anthony Towns has been one of the most talented players in the NBA since being drafted in 2015 but has been regarded as one of the worst big man defenders in recent memory. He's shattered that reputation by holding his own defensively as the Wolves look like one of the greatest modern defenses in NBA history. 

Minnesota ended the regular season with a defensive rating of 109.0, a mark that's 2.3 points better than any other team in the NBA. For context, teams that finished two through nine on the defensive rating rankings are separated by 2.1 points.

If Towns was still as bad a defender as people claim, the Wolves wouldn't be so much better than every other team when it comes to defense. He's averaging 20.7 points and 9.0 rebounds this playoff run, returning from a torn meniscus a week before the playoffs and continuing to excel while on the court as a secondary option behind Edwards.

Anthony Edwards Will Not Underestimate Denver Heading Into Game 3 

Anthony Edwards is ready to face the challenge the Nuggets will pose in Game 3, not underestimating his opposition and stressing the importance of his team needing to be ready to handle whatever Denver throws at them as well as throwing punches of their own.

"That's the defending champs over there. They're not gonna come out and play like that again in Game 3. We gotta be ready to take their punch. I always tell the team when we huddle up, and (Chris Finch) say, 'We gotta be ready to take they punch', I say, 'We gonna punch too'. S***, they not the only one punching in the fight."

Edwards made it clear his mentality will stay the same even if the Wolves win Game 3 and have a chance to sweep Denver.

"I don't give a damn if we go up 3-0. For Game 4 we gonna come out punching, too. So they gotta be ready to take our punch and we will be ready to take their punch. I don't see any slippage in their games. They just missed shots tonight. They'll be ready to go (in) Game 3 and we will be."

His growth as a leader has been remarkable to see, as everyone can tell Edwards is more than just the vocal leader of the team. His teammates look at him as the team's superstar and he has delivered so far in the Playoffs.

Edwards is averaging 32.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists through the five wins the Wolves have enjoyed so far. He will be looking to make these numbers look even more impressive as the Wolves look to seal their first Conference Finals appearance since 2004.