The Golden State Warriors will be facing off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, in a clash that promises fireworks. There is a bit of history between some of the players involved in this series as well, with Anthony Edwards and Jimmy Butler having a tense moment back in 2021.
In a game between the Timberwolves and the Miami Heat, Edwards had shoved Butler after the latter yanked the ball from his hands. Butler got in his face in response, before players got in between the two to defuse the situation. After the game, Edwards made some interesting comments regarding Butler that have now resurfaced.
“He ain’t finna fight nobody out there… all that walking up on each other, that’s stuff for the birds, man.”
That was spicy. Here is the incident between them.
While Edwards didn’t have anything to say to Butler during that incident, you better believe he’ll be running his mouth in this upcoming series. He has become one of the premier trash talkers in the NBA and had a lot to say in the first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Butler isn’t the only one on the Warriors with whom Edwards has had a tense moment on the court. Back in 2023, he and Draymond Green had exchanged words.
Draymond Green: “You think I’m gonna give you a layup? F*** out of here. What are you gonna do about it?”
Anthony Edwards: “Ain’t nobody worried about you bruh, hell nah.”
There probably aren’t too many players in the NBA who haven’t exchanged words with Green. He has gotten on plenty of players’ nerves with his trash-talking and antics on the court. Green had annoyed Edwards to the point that the Timberwolves guard stated in 2022 that he wanted to face the Warriors in the playoffs.
“Definitely going to the playoffs and going further in the playoffs to go against the Warriors,” Edwards said. “I want to play the Warriors. Wherever they at, I want to get to them… because Draymond talks so much trash.”
Well, Edwards has got his wish three years later. The 23-year-old would be backing himself to send Stephen Curry and the Warriors home.
Edwards averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in the first round to knock out the Lakers. That triumph meant he’d ended LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Kevin Durant’s seasons over the last year or so, and he’d be keen to add Curry to that list.
The Timberwolves as a whole would also have some added motivation thanks to Green. The team had taken offense to his comments regarding Rudy Gobert on Inside the NBA in the playoffs last year. The Timberwolves decided to show their support for Gobert by boycotting the show after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
It wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if tempers flared during this series. There are a lot of volatile elements involved and Game 1 will be played at the Target Center on Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET.
