Jon Krawczynski

“I was just never going to change who I was, even when the world was asking me to change who I was, to be a character in their story.” A candid Karl-Anthony Towns goes deep with @TheAthletic on turmoil, tragedy and triumph Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...

Quite an opening punch from the Wolves. Edwards with 11 points on 5-7 while playing through some discomfort.

Wolves are 9-12 from 2 to start the game. Playing with a look in their eyes.

LaMelo Ball’s first Minnesota moment was worth the wait. (Free read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/772...

LaMelo steal and lob to Jaden for the slam

10 turnovers for the Wolves the only thing keeping this from being a 25 point lead

Think Rudy might have gotten away with a goaltend there.

There's a lot more fire in the pregame intros this year. Not like, "Whoa these intros are🔥!" (They were good). But like, literal fire.

The Timberwolves will have their usual season opening theater as part of the introductions. Every player will be announced, except for Donte DiVincenzo. The team and Donte agreed that they want his first announcement to be when he returns to the court to play.

The Timberwolves knew their manhood was going to be tested this season after their offseason moves. So they tested themselves in the cauldron of “blood boiling” September workouts. That is where this 2-0 start began. (Free read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/771...

LaMelo: "I'm too advanced for them."

Joan Beringer: "I love playing with Ayo. He’s like a big brother for me. He pushes me every time. When I don’t play well, he’s going to say, ‘Yeah, you, wake up. You have to wake up.’ I love this type of energy, push me when I’m not the best version of myself. I love that."

@cjzero.bsky.social please give us a replay of that last Ball infraction.

Really nice bounce-back game for Joan Beringer so far. 9p, 7r.

this whole sequence from the Wolves, especially the Beringer block and save

Wolves are +16 on the boards. The Magic are a big, physical team, just like Miami. And just like Miami, the Wolves are smashing them on the boards.

LaMelo is +22 in 12 minutes. lol.

Ball and Edwards combine to go 2-12. But Wolves lead thanks to a nice boost from Terrence Shannon Jr.

Ant is 1-7 to start. Neither team shooting well. It's a wrestling match out there.

It might get loud in Minnesota. (Free read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/771...

Jaden McDaniels on his extension: "I just love the place I'm at. Love Minnesota, love the fans, the atmosphere, just everything. Just being here for seven years already, it's just a no-brainer adding another year. "

Anthony Edwards said a Heat bench player was chirping: "I think it kind of crunk me up. He was talking pretty crazy. When I start talking to him, he didn’t really have too much more to say. I don’t really like that. If you gonna talk shit, keep talking shit. Don’t get quiet."

Yeah, Ant is definitely going for 50

Didn't like that challenge from Newton in that spot. He was impeccable last season, but that was a miss.

Turnovers are the only thing keeping this from being a 25-point game

It's Giannis vs all of the Wolves. He's only down 2.

Wolves shooting a cool 68 percent against a team that should be pretty good defensively

LaMelo Ball: 6 pts, 3 assists in first 5:30

Starting a Timberwolves AMA over at the Wolves reddit channel. Tap in! www.reddit.com/r/timberwolv...

Explaining the motivations for Jaden McDaniels and the Timberwolves to extend his contract by one year. Something never done before. www.nytimes.com/athletic/770...

If you missed the Live Show at Forgotten Star, check it out. Great stuff from Donte DiVincenzo and Nick Maddox. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqL...

Hope to see you all at Forgotten Star Brewery on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Special guest: Donte DiVincenzo Tons of great giveaways including Wolves tickets. Benefiting youth basketball in the area.

Tim Connelly keeps shuffling the cards in Minnesota. Are Ant and LaMelo the pocket aces he’s been looking for? www.nytimes.com/athletic/768...

Ayo Dosunmu with some ramped up intensity in that first half. He's been bringing that fire all camp/preseason. www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...

Showtime at MSG. Bones with a wild finish and then Beringer with a lefty euro around KAT.

On a team with a couple of new faces, a familiar one has brought a different intensity. Ayo Dosunmu is settled in with the Wolves, and using his voice in training camp to push Anthony Edwards. (Free read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...

LaMelo Ball makes a strong first impression, and other thoughts from the Wolves preseason opener in Milwaukee. (Free read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...

Ant on LaMelo: "He was great tonight. Y'all know. He plays like his hair is on fire. He gets everybody involved. He talked more than I expected throughout the game. That's another big one for me, especially because I love people who talk. Let us know what you see."

That's 3 fouls in 5:47 for Beringer

Nice flurry from Ant there: a good contest on Jacquez at the rim and then a driving and-1 on the other end.

LaMelo in the first quarter: 6p, 3r, 2a, +13 in 10 minutes

Rudy goes to the bench and the Bucks flex their muscle on the offensive glass. Second chance after second chance coming.

Ball to Ant for 3. (Going to just copy this now so I can paste it a lot this season)

Coming to you live from the belly of the beast in Milwaukee for the debut of these new-look Wolves. I can report that the blue in these new unis really pops.

Anthony Edwards: "It's going to sound like I say this every year, but I haven't been more excited for a season to come. ... I think us being young, playing with our hair on fire." He continued raving about the defense.

Anthony Edwards on camp: "I like it. We're sharing the ball a lot. I think defensively we can really be a super team on that end. I like it."

Just a lovely read on Karl-Anthony Towns' journey to validation, written by the one who'd seen every step of it, from draft night to the parade route: @jonkrawczynski.bsky.social. Well worth the time: www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...

Just about to go live with the Wolves Collective. Join Dane, Gaardsy and me right here! www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Qs...

Yikes, Lynx

A long time ago, Ricky Rubio saw this version of Anthony Edwards coming. The leader that matches the athlete. The training wheels are off. For the Wolves to become the team they want to be, Edwards has to be the one to lead them there. (Free read) www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...