KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wild Skate, Wolves Hoop but Both on Common Ground

Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 by David Shama

The Wild be skatin’ against the Avalanche next week, while the Timberwolves will be hoopin’ versus the Spurs. Minnesota’s NHL and NBA teams both advanced to the second round of their playoffs last night by closing out the Stars and Nuggets in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The Wild play on ice in a game invented in Canada while the Wolves play on a hardwood court in a sport created by American James Naismith. It might seem the two franchises have little in common but think again.

From the trivial to the significant, there is common ground:

Both teams won their opening best of seven games playoff series by 4-2 margins. Both did so in raucous arenas that are building reputations this spring as among the loudest in the NHL and NBA.

In beating the Stars, the Wild took down a prize rival from its division that just happens to be the franchise once known as the North Stars and was based in Bloomington until moving to Dallas after the 1992-1993 season. The Nuggets, who have lost in the playoffs to the Wolves twice in the last three years, have an intense rivalry with Minnesota and this spring players from both teams lost their cool on the court.

Both teams advanced in the playoffs with textbook defense. The Stars managed just 15 goals over six games, with Dallas frustrated by Minnesota’s team defense and rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt. The Wild showed why its defense might be the best of any team in the playoffs.

The Wolves held the Nuggets under 100 points in three of the last four games, bothering Denver with their team length and athleticism. Offensive production was slowed and even stopped at times with Jaden McDaniels’ shutdown of Denver All-Star guard Jamal Murray who made four of 17 shots last night. Center Nikola Jokic, revered as one of the NBA’s all-time greats, struggled to score at times because of Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert.

The Wild and Wolves are playing in front of adoring fans who have long known frustration and are treasuring the good times of 2026. Since the Wild’s inception in 2000 this is a franchise that can claim just one deep playoff run, losing in four straight games in the conference finals to the Ducks in 2003. Last night’s win was the first time Minnesota has won its opening playoff series since 2015.

The Wolves have been to the conference finals three times, including twice in the last two years, but the franchise historically has been known more for losing than winning. From 2005-2017 the Wolves didn’t make the playoffs for 13 consecutive seasons.

Both franchises have known their ups and downs in front office decision making but now have the right leaders in place. Bill Guerin, hired in 2019, had to escape the financial burden of long-term deals with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter but now has assembled a roster with several players who rank among the NHL’s best. This, of course, includes the in-season acquisition of star defenseman Quinn Hughes who scored two goals last night in the 5-2 victory over the Stars. Guerin also persuaded franchise record setting scorer Kirill Kaprizov to commit long-term to the franchise.

Tim Connelly, hired in 2022, has been calculated but at the right times aggressive in building the Wolves roster. His historic 2022 trade involving players and draft picks with Utah brought defensive savant Gobert to Minneapolis. He also maneuvered a difficult financial situation before the season in 2024, trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in return for two key contributors in Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. A savvy in-season 2026 move acquired guard Ayo Dosunmu who is the team’s leading scorer in the playoffs at 21.8 points per game.

Timberwolves owner Marc Lore — Marc Lore

The Wild and Wolves, both expansion franchises, have solid owners. Wild owner Craig Leipold is a personable leader who has plenty of NHL experience, previously owning the Predators and now being the boss in Minnesota. It was Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, when they were minority owners back in 2022, who pushed for hiring Connelly. Sitting at courtside, fans can see the passion of the two men who are now majority owners and reveled in last night’s 110-98 win.

The owners of both franchises are lobbying for improved or new arenas. Leipold hopes to complete a major renovation of Grand Casino Arena that may include money from the Wild, city of St. Paul and state. The Wolves want a new arena in Minneapolis with many details yet to be confirmed.

Both teams are moving on to play second round foes against whom they will be underdogs. The Avalanche is the wagering favorite to win the Stanley Cup. The Spurs are considered by authorities to be second only to the Thunder in likelihood to win the NBA title.

Last evening the Wolves and Wild became the seventh pair of NBA and NHL teams from the same metropolitan area to win out in a seven-game playoff series on the same day, per the Timberwolves PR Department. The duo is the third pair to do it at home and the first twosome to accomplish that in Game 6.

Wild and Wolves play vastly different sports, but the St. Paul and Minneapolis teams have enough in common to be “kissin’ cousins.”

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At 24 Anthony Edwards Can Build Off Superstar Status

Posted on September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 by David Shama

Anthony “Ant” Edwards, only 24 years old, starts his sixth training camp with the Timberwolves this week and is one of the best basketball players in the world. Tim Connelly, the franchise’s president of basketball operations, told a media gathering Monday his superstar guard can become one of the “greatest players of all time.”

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Edwards might be in the best condition of his life after an offseason addressing his training and his skillset—preparing to take the next step in his elite career. That step could include an NBA MVP Award and lifting his franchise to a first ever NBA Finals.

What would it take to win his first league MVP Award after having twice been named All-NBA in his career? “We gotta win,” Edwards said. “I think all MVPs win at a high level (and) average a whole bunch of points.”

Michael Jordan won five MVP awards. The first came when he was 25.

This offseason an intermediary between Edwards and Jordan provided some input for the Minnesota MVP. Edwards said he picked up on the tip of using his back to lean in on a defender, rather than establishing leverage with his butt as he has done in the past. That was trademark positioning for the GOAT.

Edwards said his communications with Jordan are just beginning. “Nah, we don’t really have no relationship how y’all think we got one right now. It’ll come in years to come but right now it’s just through somebody.”

Edwards, Finch photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

It’s been suggested that Edwards needs to be more consistent against mediocre competition. In the past his approach has been more about getting his teammates involved than himself. He predicted a change for this season to establish more consistency and production: “Try to get a career high in points,” he said. “…I think that’s how I am going to stay engaged.”

Edwards has been diligent this off-season and hinted at a new offensive move that could be used in crunch times of games. Coach Chris Finch sees that development as one of the ways Edwards can elevate his game.

What is it? “I can’t tell you. You’ll see,” Edwards teased.

Edwards did offer that improving his clutch work could tie to playing closer to the rim. He did add, however, that what he can do sometimes is dictated by frequent double teams that limit his options.

During the off-season Edwards, who admitted today he has a troublesome lower back, wore gloves while dribbling the ball and noted “I’ve never been able to handle the ball this good in my life. “

Edwards can be a dynamic scorer with his outside shooting and driving to the hoop, plus his playmaking for teammates. He doesn’t finish at the rim with the consistency he is capable of. Finch would also like to see more consistency in his gifted player’s defense, which can be suffocating.

One of the things that should benefit the Wolves this season is having second leading scorer Julius Randle and valued sub Donte DiVincenzo with the team from the beginning of training camp. The two joined the team just before last season in the famous trade with the Knicks sending Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Adjustments take time and both Randle and Edwards recalled, for example, posting up in the same space on the floor during a game. That kind of confusion should be less likely now, plus all the nuances that come from teammates knowing how to work and benefit from one another. Edwards said he and Randle have been in Minneapolis all summer, adding to their experience with one another.

Other teammates were in town early, in advance of camp. Edwards thinks that can give the Wolves an edge early in the season when other teams are trying to find themselves with changed personnel. The Wolves return six of their top seven players including the starting five.

The Wolves are coming off two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. Teams that go deep in the playoffs, Edwards believes, have togetherness. “They really care about each other,” he said.

And there’s no doubt Edwards’ teammates and the front office care about him. “He’s going to have another great year,” Connelly said about Edwards who averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game last season.

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Looks Like Vikes Commit to Running Game Most in KOC Era

Posted on June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Monday notes column.

The Vikings’ recent contract extension with backup tight end Josh Oliver adds to speculation the offense will be more committed to the running game than at any time in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s three previous seasons. Oliver is a superb blocker and superior with that skill to starter T.J. Hockenson.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

According to Pro Football Focus, Oliver led NFL tight ends with a 74.2 run blocking grade in 2024 (minimum 50 percent block snaps played) and earned the fourth-highest grade during the 2023 season with a 73.9.

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips has indicated there will be times the Vikings will have both Oliver and Hockenson on the field to add size and muscle. While the two could be in the game for blocking, Hockenson is one of the NFL’s most gifted big yardage receivers and could break off the line of scrimmage and run an explosive pass pattern.

The Vikings are expected to emphasize the run game to ease the transition and workload on new quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The 22-year-old, who missed his rookie season after injuring a knee, figures to hand the ball off on at least 50 percent of the snaps to his running backs.

That RB roster includes Aaron Jones, last year’s starter. The Vikings signed him to a multi-year contract in early March before he could hit free agency. He started all 17 games for the Vikings, with career highs of 255 carries, and 1,138 yards. He also had 51 catches for 408 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

In another March move that has potential to aid the running game, the Vikings worked a trade with San Francisco involving draft choices and Jordan Mason, the 49ers RB who led the team in rushing last season with a career-high 789 yards. Mason, who will be in his fourth NFL season in 2025, ranked sixth in the NFL in yards after contact per rush (3.62) according to TruMedia, and seventh in yards per rush (5.2). Among players with a minimum of 150 rushing attempts last season, he led the NFL in missed tackles forced at 37.3 percent, according to Next Gen Stats.

Look for times next fall where both Jones and Mason are on the field together, Phillips indicated recently. Maybe with two tight ends, too.

College basketball coaches are usually former players, but the Golden Gophers program is a bit different. Head coach Niko Medved is a former student manager under ex-head coach Clem Haskins at Minnesota in the 1990s. Medved assistant coach Aaron Katsuma and his director of scouting and analytics Drew Evenson are both former managers with the Gophers.

Ryan Saunders, the former Gopher player and Timberwolves head coach, is no longer an assistant coach with the NBA Nuggets. New head coach David Adelman, son of former Wolves head coach Rick Adelman, has reorganized the staff.

At 39 Saunders is probably open to taking a college coaching position for the first time in his career.

Saunders’ wife Hayley gave birth to daughter Grace Leigh on February 23. That would have been the 70th birthday of Ryan’s dad Flip Saunders, the deceased former head coach of the Wolves and a savvy point guard who was a Gopher basketball favorite.

Tim Connelly, the Wolves president of basketball operations, should have fans on the edge of their collective seats as to what’s next with the roster. Since being hired in the summer of 2022, he has pulled off dramatic trades that first brought Rudy Gobert here and later traded away Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Twins, 5-9 in June, have pitching problems that probably have already sunk their chances of winning the Central Division and threaten earning a wild card entry in the playoffs. The starting pitching rotation is troubled, and third baseman Royce Lewis is sidelined with yet another hamstring injury.

Staff ace Pablo Lopez is on the 60-day Injured List. His replacement, Zebby Matthews, is on the 15-day. Bailey Ober, a mainstay in the rotation with Lopez, Joe Ryan and Chris Paddack, is struggling with his mechanics.

The Twins were swept by the Astros over the weekend. Minnesota entered yesterday’s game with a staff ERA of 6.39 in June. That compares with 3.11 in May and 3.54 March-April.

Minnesota is 3-8 in its last 11 games, and 8-13 in the previous 21. At 36-35, the Twins are barely holding on to second place and are nine games behind the Central Division leading Tigers.

FanGraphs gives the Twins a 7.2 percent chance of beating out the Tigers but 42.1 percent likelihood of making the playoffs. That could be optimistic for a pitching staff down two starters and a bullpen that while elite has been taxed with a lot of innings already this season.

The way it looks now the Twins will have at least two representatives on the American League All-Star team for the July 15 All-Star Game in Atlanta. Center fielder Byron Buxton, 31, should be a starter because of his hitting, fielding and base running this spring. Reliever Johan Duran, 27, has saved 10 games working out of perhaps baseball’s best bullpen, and has a 4-2 record with a 1.64 ERA.

This would be Buxton’s second All-Star Game, having homered in two at bats as a reserve in 2022. Duran would be making his debut.

Buxton signed a seven-year contract for $100 million in December of 2021, according to MLB.com. That deal includes staggered bonus amounts if he places in the top 10 for the league MVP Award. He won’t win the award this year (would bring $8 million) but he receives $3 million for a finish between sixth and 10^th.

Duran is a steal for the Twins at a reported $4.15 million.

Ryan, among the winningest pitchers in the majors this season, could also represent the Twins as a first-time member of the AL All-Star staff. Ryan, 29, with a 7-2 record and ERA of 2.93, is the club’s best pitcher with Lopez sidelined.

Sam Udovich, the Cretin-Derham Hall senior who recently won the boys’ golf 3A state tournament, will be on scholarship at TCU where the program celebrates its 100^th year in 2026.

Humor department: My friend Bob Klas remembered the late Murray Warmath’s take on golf. The Golden Gophers football coach said he’d do anything to improve, “except practice.”

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