The Phoenix Suns fight for their season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The young team has the veterans cornered with a 3-0 lead. They have dominated in limiting one of the most talented backcourts in the league while having their pesky defenses create crunch-time opportunities. Amongst the Wolves’ surge, one of the most heated moments comes from Anthony Edwards’ relentless drive to boss around Kevin Durant.
Ant has been going after Durant since the series’ earlier games, successfully dazzling him on the offense and playfully mocking the 2-time NBA champion whenever the opportunity provides. As the Suns put on a season-saving display in Game 4, the Timberwolves shed light on Ant’s brief statement to Durant. During one of their courtside mic’d up moments, Anthony Edwards was heard saying, “You won’t get that easy no more K,” while maintaining his focus on defense.
Ant mic'd up in the 1H of Game 4 🔊
Wolves-Suns 2H underway as MIN looks to advance to Round 2 🍿 pic.twitter.com/AgfDA5GJ3J
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2024
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Ant is the leading name in the debates about becoming the next face of the NBA upon LeBron James’ exit. With that, it seems like Anthony Edwards is steadily eliminating all competition, all while building upon his best season performance and Wolves’ best campaign in the modern days of the league. Just two quarters after the Wolves revealed Ant’s mic’d up moments, the Wolves swept the Suns, albeit with a ferocious Edwards poster on KD during the game’s last minutes.
Anthony Edwards has been going at Durant
Anthony Edwards’ aggression toward Durant was unprecedented, and no past rivalry existed. Instead, he often labeled Durant as his preferred GOAT in the conversations of all-time greats. However, during Game 1, Edwards went pound-by-pound with Durant and then talked smack with the 35-year-old.
ANTHONY EDWARDS TALKING RIGHT IN KEVIN DURANT’S FACE
pic.twitter.com/DpHrF6E7Fz— Swizzy (@swxizzy) April 20, 2024
Even though Durant did not retaliate with trash talk, Anthony Edwards continued to assert his presence. Moreover, he even extended it to his teammate Bradley Beal, resorting to a smirk and a hand signal after hitting a three.
“Not even playoffs, it’s just hoop,“ Durant said about Ant’s mockery after the game. He added, “So it’s on me to keep coming back,“ while setting a for himself. However, in Game 2, Ant’s comparison of Durant to his teammate Jaden McDaniels came to light after McDaniels scored a game-high 28 points.
As Wolves cruised to another win in Game 3, Edwards resorted to Triple H’s iconic celebration. With a smirk and the game out of the Suns’ hands, he stood at the court to hurt the Suns where it hurt the most.
Shawn Micheals ve Triple H ile büyümüş o neslin üyesi: Anthony Edwards pic.twitter.com/Db7fyMt5xZ
— Do Deka (@dodekabasket) April 27, 2024
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While fans claim that Anthony Edwards might have been fined for the gesture, just like Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant claims that Ant is open to celebrating however he wants after a win.
Nevertheless, despite the potential rivalry sparked by the series, Edwards and Durant share nothing but respect for each other.
Anthony Edwards & Kevin Durant
Nothing but respect
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 29, 2024
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The Wolves now advance to the second round for the first time in 2 decades. The last it happened was in 2004 when Kevin Garnett spearheaded the Wolves deepest playoff run.