LaMelo Said "President" — Why Wolves Picked Anthony Edwards

Minnesota reportedly passed on LaMelo Ball with the No. 1 pick in 2020 after a pre-draft interview where Ball said he wanted to "be President of the United States." That moment helped push the Wolves to choose Anthony Edwards. Six years on, Edwards is a three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA pick and a 23.9-point scorer who has powered Minnesota to back-to-back Western Conference Finals. Ball, taken third by Charlotte, averages 21.1 points, 7.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds but has been limited by injuries and the Hornets haven’t reached the playoffs. Merlin sees a clear split: Edwards has proven to be the safer, franchise-changing choice; Ball has star flashes and big ambitions but needs health and roster help to change the story. The "president" line was odd — a glimpse of Ball’s confidence — yet teams often pick for floor and fit, not poetry.