Anthony Edwards already has a traditional point guard beside him in Minnesota, and he is convinced the Timberwolves landed something special. LaMelo Ball, in Edwards’ words, is the best point guard in the NBA. But the question is, do the numbers support his claim?
What Anthony Edwards Said and Why
Minnesota beat Miami 131-106 in the Wolves’ season opener on October 21. Ball had 21 points and six assists in his Timberwolves debut. Edwards went off for 45. Not a bad first look at the new backcourt.
“To me, he’s the best point guard in the NBA, so it’s like get him the ball and let him create for others,” Edwards told The Associated Press.
There is something real behind the confidence. Ball is six-foot-seven with range on his passes and no fear of pushing the tempo. That gives Minnesota a different look on offense. Edwards can adjust his game by attacking off the ball and saving his legs for defense.
Still, that is one teammate’s excitement talking. A star’s confidence and a league-wide ranking are two different things, and only one of them requires results.
Talent Speaks for Itself, but Percentages Have Questions
The production holds up on its own. Last season with the Charlotte Hornets, Ball averaged 20.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game over 72 games. He also averaged 7.1 assists per game. His 272 made threes were the second-highest total in the NBA.
The shot-making is where the argument wobbles. Ball hit 40.7% from the field and 36.8% from three. The long-range volume matters. The overall field-goal percentage next to the league’s most efficient stars? That matters too.
None of this makes Ball ordinary. The vision is unusual, and the size is unusual for the position. But 7.1 assists a night does not settle a debate by itself. The best point guard does more than pass.
The best point guard scores efficiently, makes good decisions, and wins. That is the full job description, and it is exactly where Ball still has work to do.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Has the Stronger Case, and It Is Not Close
Then there is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder star averaged 31.1 points while shooting 55.3% from the field. No guard in NBA history had ever put up at least 30 points on 55% shooting in a season.
He managed that. He also won his second straight MVP award while leading the Thunder to the league’s best record at 64-18. The resume does not get much sturdier than that.
The league’s general managers see it the same way. In the NBA’s 2026-27 GM survey, Gilgeous-Alexander took 67% of the vote for best point guard. Jalen Brunson came second at 20%, and Luka Doncic followed at 10%.
Ball did not appear among the top choices. The poll is not the final word on anything. It does show how far Ball sits from the consensus No. 1.
Gilgeous-Alexander owns the efficiency and the winning right now, and the awards came along with both. Ball has not built anything close to that kind of résumé yet.
The Playoffs Are Still Mostly a Blank Page
Ball’s postseason record is thin, mostly because it barely exists. He has played in four play-in games, averaging 23.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on 34.5% from the field and 25% from three.
Most recently, he played two games in 2026, where he averaged 26.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 39.6% from the field but only 20.8% from three.
That is a taste of high-pressure basketball, nothing more. It is not the showing of a playoff-tested leader who can carry a contender through multiple rounds.
Availability is the other file on the desk. Last season’s 72 games were an encouraging step after all the missed time earlier in his career. Keeping that up matters for a Timberwolves team chasing a real playoff run.
None of this makes Ball the wrong fit. It might make him the right one. Ball could fix Minnesota’s playoff flaw by giving its offense another creator.
Ball does not need to be the NBA’s best point guard for the Timberwolves to get better. He just needs to be their point guard.
The Last Word
Edwards’ belief in Ball makes total sense. Ball is a seriously talented playmaker, and if he tunes up his scoring range, he could be an absolute beast for Minnesota. The only real issue here is the ranking. It just feels a bit premature.
Ball can shrink the gap with better shot selection and by staying healthy. Then, the playoffs actually have to happen.
For now, Edwards’ words describe belief in a teammate’s potential, not a conclusion backed by anything. Ball could make Minnesota a dark horse in the West, but the present-day best point guard debate lives in Oklahoma City.
Featured Image: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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