The Minnesota Timberwolves once had to choose between Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
Now, years later, they have both.
That is what makes Jon Krawczynski’s story so perfect. The Wolves ended up taking Edwards with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and according to Krawczynski, one small part of the decision-making process came from an interview with Ball that apparently did not go very smoothly.
The question was simple enough. Minnesota asked LaMelo what he saw himself doing after basketball, what kind of things he aspired to beyond his playing career.
Ball’s answer?
“I want to be President of the United States.”
That is either the worst draft interview answer ever or the most LaMelo Ball draft interview answer ever. Maybe both.
To be fair, teams do not make No. 1 pick decisions based on one quirky answer. Minnesota had countless reasons to believe Edwards was the right choice: his physical profile, scoring upside, charisma, explosiveness and long-term star potential. But the story still tells you something about the difference between the two prospects at the time.
Edwards came across as forceful, direct and built for the franchise-player spotlight. Ball came across as brilliant, creative and unpredictable, but also harder to read. His game was different. His personality was different. His path was different. And when a team is trying to decide who becomes the face of the franchise, those details matter.
The funny part is that LaMelo’s answer has aged strangely well. Not because he is about to run for office, but because it captures the exact energy that has always made him fascinating. He does not think small. He does not sound scripted. He says the kind of thing that makes front offices nervous and fans lean forward.
Minnesota chose Edwards, and history says that was the right call. Edwards became the heartbeat of the Timberwolves, the superstar with power, swagger and a playoff-ready edge. He gave the franchise an identity.
But now Ball is reportedly arriving anyway, and that changes the whole punchline. The Wolves did not choose LaMelo in 2020. They chose Edwards. Then, years later, they found a way to add Ball next to him.
That is not a draft mistake. That is a plot twist.
The interview story makes the new partnership even more entertaining. The serious franchise cornerstone and the creative chaos guard. The No. 1 pick Minnesota trusted from the start and the player they once passed on partly because they could not quite figure him out.
Now they do not need to choose. They just need both of them to win together.
And if LaMelo Ball ever does become President, at least the Timberwolves can say they heard it first.
