Skip Bayless Targeting Anthony Edwards with Brutal New Nickname
In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves came up short against flop-master Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his foul-baiting talent. Now, they will soak up the loss for a couple days, before they get their rematch vs the Thunder in Oklahoma City for game 2. have been the talking point during the news cycle since.
It wasn't just Shai that was a detriment to Minnesota in Game 1 though. It started when 90% of the team forgot how to shoot. That was exacerbated by a poor coaching performance from Chris Finch, who didn't get much help from his young superstar, Anthony Edwards, who apparently left his hero cape in Minneapolis.
Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Just like Gilgeous-Alexander excels at flopping his way to the foul line, former ESPN First Take tag-team partner Skip Bayless has a talent for shocking his way into sports media relevance. We don't hate on success here, though. People eat up Skip's outlandish takes. That's why FOX paid him over $50 million to spew them from 2016-2024.
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Minnesota Timberwolves' Edwards gets 'Can't Man' nickname
And over the past couple months, Bayless — who is from Oklahoma City and does not hide his OKC thunder fandom — has had rising Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards in his hyperbolic crosshairs.
Unsurprisingly, the Wolves' Game 1 loss on Tuesday night did not draw any sympathy from Skip, who recently created a new nickname for 'Ant-Man', renaming him 'Can't-Man'.
'All of a sudden SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) went MVP on the Timberwolves while Ant Man, right on schedule, turned into Can't Man. He just can't. Second half, fourth quarters, playoffs. I told you going into this, way too often in big playoff game fourth quarters, he has been Can't Man…The worst player on the floor, says plus/minus, was Can't Man tonight…I told you, Can't Man is overhyped and overrated.'
Skip Bayless – X
Look, Skip Bayless may have media's most punchable face. Most agree on that. Still, Stephen A. Smith's old Cold Pizza and First Take co-star brings up some valid points. In game one, it's hard to deny Ant's disappearing act.
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It wasn't that he was terrible as much as he was nonexistent. Even Edwards was first to admit postgame that his 13 total shots on Tuesday night — 18 points on 3-of-8 from deep — are unacceptable for a guy who wants to be mentioned in MVP conversations sooner than later.
Of course, Ant is not overrated or overhyped. I'm not even sure Skip really believes that himself. But that doesn't really matter to Bayless. He's decided that Anthony Edwards is his next LeBron, who he's been dragging down for decades.
Related: NBA Pundits Agree: Flopping Shai is a Problem for the League, Not Just Timberwolves
Nonetheless, our 23-year-old superstar did not play well in Game 1, and thus, I expect him to bounce back with vengeance in game 2, something that should scare the heck out of Oklahoma City.
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No matter what Skip Bayless tries to speak into existence, Edwards is a generational talent in this league and he'll show that off in this series just like he did in the first two (which Skip has conveniently forgotten about).
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