Speaking to a crowd of fans at a packed arena this weekend, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards revealed his true feelings about sweeping his childhood idol out of the playoffs. According to Edwards, the moment was surreal and came with a hint of guilt.
“I’m not gonna lie. I felt bad a little bit, only because he’s my favorite player of all time,” said Edwards at a Fanatics event. “I didn’t wanna send him home like that. But it happens man, I felt bad.”
This banter between KD and Anthony Edwards is everything 😂@Fanatics @FanaticsFest @theantedwards_ @KDTrey5 pic.twitter.com/tufdzIujyE
— Aliyah Funschelle (@AliyahFun) August 17, 2024
Edwards, 23, has long had a special appreciation for Durant. He grew up watching the 7-foot sharpshooter and was a huge fan of his game. In the past, Edwards has called Durant his GOAT and has tagged him as his favorite player ever multiple times before.
Much to his joy, Edwards joined Durant as his teammate for the Paris Olympic Games this summer. The duo shined for Team USA and were crucial in delivering their country the gold medal. But before they linked up for the gold, they were competing against each other in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Suns, after finishing 7th in the West, matched up with Edwards and the Timberwolves in the first round. Despite the Suns having more experience and star power, it was the Timberwolves who came out on top in a 4-0 series sweep. It was a time of prosperity for the Timberwolves, and Edwards was leading the show for his team with an average of 31.0 points per game.
In many ways, it was a passing of the torch moment for Edwards and Durant but it doesn’t mean that their meetings are over. Next season, with both players scheduled to return, things could get even more intense if they meet in the postseason.
The Suns, with another offseason to grow and develop their chemistry, could finally reach their peak as a unit and live up to their status as one of the most stacked teams in the West. If the big three can stay healthy, the Suns can finish as a higher seed in the spring and secure an easier path to the Finals, where Durant is 2-2 in his career.
After finishing as the 2nd seed in the West last campaign, the Timberwolves are still a team on the rise and the combination of Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns has the potential to take them all the way. They came within three wins of the Finals this year and they will go into next season as one of the favorites in the West.
With so many variables to consider, it’s impossible to say for sure if Kevin Durant and the Suns can answer for their first-round elimination last year. But with Durant, they at least have a chance to make some noise and they have a chance to get revenge for their embarrassing first-round defeat in April.
For Edwards, this is a rare opportunity for him to take up the mantle of a superstar and steal the show from one of his idols. As one of the faces of the new generation of the game, all eyes all be on him next season to make the leap and prove himself as one of the elites.
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