Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves brought plenty of fireworks, but one of the most entertaining moments came not from a dunk or a buzzer-beater but from Anthony Edwards trying to get LeBron James hit with a technical foul for swearing. The moment went viral almost instantly.
The incident unfolded during a tense exchange with the officials when LeBron, clearly frustrated after a non-call, shouted, “Now y’all wanna call that dumb*** s***!”
Edwards, who was nearby and caught every syllable, quickly turned into a referee himself, waving his arms and yelling, “Woaahhhhhh! That’s a tech! That’s a tech!”
The referees didn’t bite. No whistle. No technical foul. Just a brief pause and a chuckle from fans watching the moment unfold in real time. LeBron remained in the game without any penalty, much to the annoyance of Edwards, who, ironically, knows all too well what it’s like to get punished for his own words.
Just 48 hours earlier, Anthony Edwards was fined $50,000 by the NBA for “directing inappropriate language and making an obscene gesture toward a fan” during Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena.
The fiery Timberwolves guard had gone back and forth with a Lakers fan who had been heckling Rudy Gobert. Edwards didn’t just respond, he went personal, loud, and graphic.
The league wasn’t amused. The hefty fine was a clear message, and perhaps that’s what prompted Edwards to call out LeBron when he heard the King drop his own expletives.
Some fans on social media joked that Edwards was just trying to even the playing field. Others saw it as a moment of light-hearted pettiness that added color to an already fiery series.
While Edwards might have been acting partly in jest, he also understands the fine line between passion and punishment, something he’s been walking all season.
Known for his outspoken confidence, the 23-year-old has built a reputation as a trash-talker who never backs down, whether it’s chirping at opponents during warmups or calling out officials mid-game.
But if Edwards thought LeBron’s comment would lead to a whistle, he underestimated the league’s tolerance when it comes to its biggest star. LeBron, who is nearly two decades older than Ant, has mastered the art of voicing frustration without crossing lines that typically draw techs—though this time, his words were hardly subtle.
Still, there’s a certain irony to Edwards trying to get LeBron T’d up. It shows the younger star is both learning how the league works and actively trying to play the mind games veterans have used for years. Whether it was gamesmanship, sarcasm, or frustration, it made for a hilarious and oddly relatable moment on national TV.
In a series filled with physicality, trash talk, and playoff pressure, that brief exchange became a perfect snapshot of how personal these battles get. And in classic LeBron fashion, he walked away untouched, while Edwards shook his head knowing the refs just weren’t going to call that “dumb*** s***.”
