Latest news with #AnthonyEdwards
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Work My Butt Off This Summer": Anthony Edwards Reacts To Embarrassing Game 5 Loss Against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
"Work My Butt Off This Summer": Anthony Edwards Reacts To Embarrassing Game 5 Loss Against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The OKC Thunder have proceeded to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 after a resounding win over the Timberwolves. In Game 5, they won 124-94 to send the Timberwolves packing on vacation. Anthony Edwards, the star player for the Timberwolves, struggled once again to produce offensively to the level of his own standard. He finished the game with 19 points, shooting 7 of 18 from the floor and 1 of 7 from beyond the arc. After the game, Edwards spoke to the media about the loss. Advertisement "They came ready to play, and we didn't. When you lose a game like this, there's not really too much to break down. They did what they were supposed to do and won the game... They dominated the game from the tip, and I can do nothing but tip my hat to those guys; they came ready, man, good job by them." When asked how he's feeling about the game, he admitted being hurt for his veteran teammate, Mike Conley, more than for himself. "I'm hurt, more so for myself, for Mike. I came up short for Mike. Like I said, we tried last year, we couldn't get it. We tried again this year, we'll try again next year. But hurt is a temporary word to use, I'm good." Upon further questioning about Mike Conley, Edwards even promised to work harder in the upcoming summer to help Conley win his first championship. Advertisement "I'mma work my butt off this summer. Nobody's gonna work harder than me this summer, I can tell you that much. I'll try to make it happen again for Mike." Anthony Edwards' offensive skill set seemed to be no match for the defensive prowess of the Thunder. This has given Anthony Edwards a chip on his shoulder to work on in the summer. Analyzing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And Anthony Edwards' Performance In This Series Before the series began, we did a comprehensive analysis of Anthony Edwards compared to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Playoffs. Gilegous-Alexander, who averaged 8.8 free throw attempts per game in the regular season, averaged 8.8 makes in 10.2 attempts per game in this series. Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 31.4 points, 8.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds in five games in the series. Without the free throws, he would average 24.6 points per game in this series (44 free throws made in 167 points scored over five games). Advertisement Edwards, on the other hand, has averaged 23.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in the five games played. Without the free throws, he would average 18.6 points per game (22 free throws made in 115 points scored over five games). Gilgeous-Alexander still had a better performance in this series and thus thoroughly deserved the unanimous win for the West Finals MVP award. Related: Isiah Thomas Says Thunder Are Treating Anthony Edwards Like 'The Bad Boy' Pistons Treated Michael Jordan This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Is the Thunder's defense really elite?
Is the Thunder's defense really elite? | The Kevin O'Connor Show Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor is joined by 13-year NBA veteran Marcus Morris Sr. to discuss Oklahoma City's defensive effort in the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota and if it was really as dominant as some suggest. Hear the full conversation on 'The Kevin O'Connor Show' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Is that because of OKC's defense though? Advertisement OKC's defense looks like an all-time level defense. They befuddled Jokic, they shut down ants. It's definitely was partially due to that, but if you watch the game, OKC only won that game. By 2 points. They uh they had 20 offensive rebounds and Minnesota had 19 turnovers. She almost had a 40 point triple-double. Jay Lee Williams had 30 points. Chad Hongren had 20 something points, Anthony Edward had 16 points, and Julius Render had 2 points, and they only won the game by 2 points. And you know why they won the game by 2 points? It's because Anthony Edwards didn't try to find a rhythm to the second half. Advertisement Do you know how hard that possibly can be when you're the best player and you know down the stretch, we're gonna need you to make shots and make plays and you don't have a rhythm. There's no way. There's no way. So, even when it looks like that game was in control, I'm sitting there watching like, it's gonna come down to the reason why Anthony Edwards didn't have his rhythm in the start of the game and that was the series. If he got going early, they had a better chance. The game they beat by 40 points, he started off the game with 12 points in the first quarter. They beat him by 40. They dismantled them. Advertisement 143. They dismantled them and they scored 260 points in two games. So, is that great defense? Like, is that like the greatest defense, 260 points in two games? Uh, I'm not really sure about that, right? Like, because if I, if I found something in that first game, there's no way that I go away from it in the second game. But OKC did a really good job of making adjustments. They, they start like switching up top and they just was pushing them out and, you know, they did, they did a hell of a job and I don't wanna take away from what I've seen from OKC because they are a really good team and make sure you clip this and, and, and when you put this out, make sure you put this out because a lot of people think I hate OKC. Advertisement I don't. I think. I don't hate them. I just, I feel like you're, you're, you don't respect like, uh, I respect OKC and I respect what they done. What I, what I don't respect is the way the other younger teams approach series with OKC because if you, if I gotta keep talking about this, if you look at how how how Minnesota Timberwolves approached the series with Golden State and the Lakers, the energy was not the same.
Black America Web
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Kendrick Perkins Apologizes For Saying Anthony Edwards Can't Be The Face Of NBA Because He's Not A 'Family Man'
With the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry making early postseason exits, it's never been more apparent that a new face of the NBA needs to be crowned. Of the young players in the league currently atop the list is Anthony Edwards, who just got sent packing in the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row. However, during a recent debate on ESPN's First Take , Kendrick Perkins stated that while Edwards possesses the core talent, marketability, and personality to hold that title, he may need to address his personal life first. 'You gotta be a role model, and things outside the lines matter. Now, if you go down the list of all the faces of the league in the history of the game, you look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph. What did they all have in common? While they was playing in the league they all were family men,' Perkins said Tuesday. 'They all were married. With kids. And if you think that don't play a role as far as the role model. This is facts.' Edward does have a child with his girlfriend, but he's also been caught up in several paternity suits, including alleged texts telling an Instagram model in 2023 to get an abortion and send him video proof of her ingesting the pill. Then, earlier this year, it happened again after he was involved with Ayesha Howard—who also has a child with Lil Baby—when a paternity test revealed he's the father of her daughter, Aubri Summer Howard. He then forfeited any parental or visitation rights and was more focused on determining a child support agreement. Despite the drama in his personal life, Perkins realized he had been wrong in bringing it up in a basketball discussion and apologized. 'Anthony Edwards is one my favorite players in the League if not my favorite player. I apologized privately so I'm apologizing publicly to the young 👑 for my comments on First Take yesterday,' he tweeted. 'My bad young fella. I Was not taking a personal shot at you but I could see how it could have been taken that way.' See social media's reaction to Perkins' blunder below. Kendrick Perkins Apologizes For Saying Anthony Edwards Can't Be The Face Of NBA Because He's Not A 'Family Man' was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-NBA Player Says Pairing Anthony Edwards With Suns' Superstar Would 'Drastically' Boost His Game
Ex-NBA Player Says Pairing Anthony Edwards With Suns' Superstar Would 'Drastically' Boost His Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves' 2024-25 season came to an end on Wednesday night as they were eliminated in five games by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Advertisement Game 5 did not go Minnesota's way as Oklahoma City dominated their way to a victory and a trip to the NBA Finals. Now the Timberwolves have a crucial offseason ahead of them as they try to retool their roster after being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5).© Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Of course, Anthony Edwards is the player that the Timberwolves will continue to build around and former NBA player Jay Williams believes that they should target a superstar from the Phoenix Suns to pair alongside him this offseason. 'Pairing him with maybe Kevin Durant may be one of the best would increase his basketball IQ drastically,' Williams said. This is a bold take by Williams but he does make a compelling case as Durant's fit next to Edwards would not only take the pressure off Minnesota's young star but also allow him to continue to develop in other ways rather than scoring the ball. Advertisement Of course, it was reported at the trade deadline that the Timberwolves made a last second push to acquire Durant from the Suns but Phoenix was unwilling to move him. That is likely to change this offseason after Phoenix missed the playoffs and now look to rebuild their roster around Devin Booker. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Because of this, Durant is likely to be on the move once again and the Timberwolves have emerged as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer this summer. Minnesota has enough assets to make a move for Durant while keeping most of their core together and adding him next to Edwards may help the Timberwolves get over the hump and reach the NBA Finals next season. Advertisement On the other side, the Suns would also benefit from a Durant trade to the Timberwolves, especially if they are able to receive Jaden McDaniels in return as he would give them a much-needed 3-and-D wing alongside Booker. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Laker criticizes Anthony Edwards after Minnesota's playoff loss
After the Minnesota Timberwolves got past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs in five games, some started to believe they could make a magical run deep into the postseason. The team pushed aside the Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry for most of the second round, and reached the Western Conference finals for the second year in a row. But once there, they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, and it wasn't even that close. Advertisement Some are criticizing budding superstar Anthony Edwards for not playing up to his standards on a consistent basis. After his Timberwolves were eliminated, Edwards didn't express any real pain and even said that the situation is "exciting" because of how young he is. The implication he gave is that he will get plenty more chances to reach the NBA Finals and win a world championship. But nothing is guaranteed, no matter how great or young one is. That's the message former Lakers guard Lou Williams had for Edwards during an appearance on "Run it Back." "I love the attitude but Ant just slightly missed the mark," Williams said. "I've been to the Eastern Conference Finals once in 17 years. That is something you don't want to take for granted. Those opportunities come few and in between." Edwards has put up some monster games in the playoffs over the last two years. But as supremely gifted as he is, he's a little too inconsistent at this point in his career. He still has room for improvement as far as being consistently effective, as well as overcoming some defensive strategies. Advertisement While the Timberwolves are a good team, they aren't exactly a juggernaut. The Lakers and Golden State Warriors could be championship-caliber again next season, and a team such as the Houston Rockets, which finished second in the West, could end up landing Kevin Durant this summer. No one can safely predict right now when Edwards will be playing for a spot in the NBA Finals again. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Former Laker criticizes Anthony Edwards after Minnesota's playoff loss
