Anthony Edwards became the poster child for Adidas in their latest campaign, targeted to throw shade at LeBron James. Following the result of the Lakers-Wolves first-round matchup, Adidas released a promo of the Minnesota Timberwolves star and proclaimed him “The King Slayer”.
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— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) May 1, 2025
Anthony Edwards has been one of the league’s most exciting young talents. At 23 years old, Edwards is making waves for becoming the next face of the NBA as well. With an incredible amount of attention on the young guard heading into the matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, there was a lot of attention on the Lakers’ star LeBron James as well.
James has been the face of the NBA for many years now. Now, in a situation where the past would have to face off against the future, apparel and footwear giant Adidas made a move to promote its star athlete.
The showdown between Edwards and James was intense. The young star went after the Lakers forward with increased levels of aggression and physicality to gain an upper hand. James wouldn’t back down either. However, after a grueling five-game series, Edwards and the Timberwolves came out on top with a 103-96 win in Game 5.
The result of this win sees Minnesota through to the next round. However, this win also marked another achievement for the Wolves guard, who appears to be on a warpath of defeating the previous generation of stars.
Having beaten James, Edwards earned the title “King Slayer” given to him by the brand. When also considering that the Lakers forward has been the face of Adidas’ competitor, Nike, for so many years, the promo appears to be a much more direct method of throwing shade at him.
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves Blitz Past The Lakers
The Minnesota Timberwolves were widely viewed as the underdogs heading into their matchup against the Lakers. This was all the motivation needed for Anthony Edwards, who was tasked by many to establish himself as the best player on the floor this series.
Edwards was transcendent against the Lakers. While his scoring prowess has always been his most lethal trait, the 23-year-old displayed an enhanced game sense that showcased new horizons to his game. His ability to envision and execute plays wreaked havoc on the Lakers’ defense rotations.
By pairing his mastery on the offensive end with his stubborn defensive effort, Edwards truly set himself apart as a leader and a star in the series. He recorded an average of 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.
With one series win in the bag, Edwards and the Wolves look primed to make a deep playoff run as they prepare for their second round matchup to be decided.
