Apr 14, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shares words with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) after fouling him in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Edwards has shared that Kevin Durant is his favorite player of all-time. Despite this, the Minnesota Timberwolves star trash-talked his idol throughout his team’s first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns. Carmelo Anthony recently weighed in on the trash-talking, claiming he would have been out for blood.
Speaking to Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala of the Point Forward podcast, the ten-time All-Star stated:
I would’ve been like, ‘this ni**a’s bugging’. I don’t want to kill this little ni**a. I would’ve been out for blood. In a competitive way, I would’ve been out for blood because I’m taking that as ‘what?’
It’s just that it goes back to say you got to know how to put these pieces together. You got to know how to put these teams together. And I get what Phoenix did. They said, ‘f**k it, we’re going all-in. We got to go. Our time is now. We got to put all the chips on the table. We got to go’. These young boys ain’t trying to hear that s**t. None of these young boys in this league is trying to hear that s**t.
Edwards led the Timberwolves to their first postseason victory in 20 years and their first sweep in franchise history. He averaged 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. The two-time All-Star shot 51.2% from the field, 43.8% from three-point range and 83.9% from the free-throw line.
Durant had a strong series, as well, despite being swept in the first-round for the second time in three years. He averaged 26.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 0.5 spg and 1.5 bpg on 55.2/41.7/82.4% shooting splits. While he was reportedly unhappy with his role in Phoenix’s offense, he continued to play at an elite level in his 17th season.
Check out Carmelo Anthony’s comments on Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant below (starting at the 48:56 mark):
Anthony Edwards makes it clear he isn’t done trash-talking Kevin Durant
Anthony Edwards did not hesitate to trash-talk Kevin Durant throughout the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns. Speaking to the Inside the NBA crew after Game 4, Edwards, who has shared that he admires Kevin Durant, was asked about eliminating the two-time champion, responding:
It felt great. I got the utmost respect for KD. He comes in and competes every night. I’ve watched every last one of his games since I’ve been about five. I love that guy, man, and I’m excited to play with him this summer. Talk a little trash and let him know I sent him home.
The two stars will be teammates on a loaded Team USA roster at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer. Edwards will look to capture his first Olympics gold medal, while Durant is hoping to win his fourth gold medal. If he is able to do so, the 14-time All-Star would break a tie with Carmelo Anthony for the most gold medals in Olympics men’s basketball history.
Check out Anthony Edwards’ comments on sweeping Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns’ below:
“It felt great. I got the utmost respect for KD… I’m excited to play with him this summer, talk a little trash and let him know I sent him home” 🗣️
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Caleb Gebrewold is the Editor for The Dunk Central. He is an experienced journalist who has covered the NBA, MLB, NFL, college sports, mixed martial arts and boxing. His work has been featured in publications such as Fansided, MSN, Yardbreaker, Sportskeeda and Gridiron Heroics. Caleb has a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications from Purdue University.
