The game was on national TV for a reason: two of the league’s brightest young stars, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards, going head-to-head. The league wasn’t selling this as a near NBA Finals matchup from last season—this one was all about Tatum and Edwards.
Tatum and Edwards were among the youngest players to represent Team USA at the Olympics last summer, at 26 and 23, respectively. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, 24, was sandwiched in the middle.
They are two of the league’s most marketable stars—players the NBA envisions as its faces for years to come. But in Tatum and the Celtics’ 118-115 win over Edwards and the Timberwolves, it was clear that one was significantly ahead of the other, both on and off the court.
Tatum finished with game-highs in points (33), assists (nine), rebounds (eight), and steals (three)—two more steals than Minnesota’s entire team. Meanwhile, Edwards struggled, finishing with just 15 points, four rebounds, and six assists, while Tatum took on the challenge of guarding him at various points—a responsibility Tatum requested.
“He started the night off on Edwards, which is something he wanted,” head coach Joe Mazzulla revealed after the game.” He took that defensive challenge. That’s key for us to get to where we want to get to— him taking that on. So it’s a credit to him.”
“We just had a talk this morning,” said Tatum. “Knowing that we had a few guys out (Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis), our lineup was going to be a little bit different. Just another way to insert yourself into the game.”
That’s a mature basketball player. Willing to do the dirty work and whatever it takes to help the team win. He’s wholeheartedly embraced whatever role the team needs from him on any given night, whether it’s defense, passing, rebounding, or scoring. And in most cases, it’s all of the above—which is why he leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists.
There’s a stark contrast in maturity with Edwards, who, after the game, complained about only taking one shot in the third quarter—even though he finished with five assists and the Timberwolves outscored Boston by five points in that period.
“That was a good brand of basketball, but it’s not how I want to play,” Edwards said. “I mean, I’m only 23. I don’t want to just be passing the ball all night. But the way they guarded me, I think I had to.”
What?
Edwards is in his fifth year as a pro. He’s yet to realize passing the ball is the best way to prevent double teams? Or maybe a team that is severely underperforming and sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference, a year removed from a trip to the Western Conference Finals, might need to reinvent ways to win games?
“It’s super hard,” Edwards added when asked how hard it is to stay engaged. “Super hard. Super hard. Super hard. I’m wired to score the ball.”
While Edwards sulked in his chair, Tatum gave his teammates his flowers, even when asked about his personal defense potentially being overlooked after helping hold Edwards to his third-lowest scoring total of the season.
“It wasn’t a one-man job,” Tatum said. “We upped our intensity and physicality as a unit. Tried to make it tough on him, didn’t want him playing one-on-one. Just wanted to show bodies and try to make him as uncomfortable as you can. When the best players in the league are comfortable, it’s tough. So you’ve got to try things to throw them off.”
Although Tatum has grown—and continues to grow—as a player, he’s always understood what it takes to win: accountability, selflessness, and sacrifice. Part of being a young player in the NBA is figuring that out, and it’s exactly why Tatum is now an NBA champion. Immaturity was never a hurdle for him, and eventually, that humility—along with everything else needed to win a championship—broke through.
Edwards is a great player—an All-NBA talent at a very young age. However, if he wants to take the next step and cement himself as one of the game’s true elites, he needs to look at the other young superstar’s maturity and approach to winning. Greatness isn’t just about scoring; it’s about leadership, accountability, and realizing that success comes from making your teammates better, not just yourself.
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