What a difference a game makes. The atmosphere during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 4 showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers was charged, especially as Anthony Edwards and LeBron James squared off. Just a game ago, they were exchanging laughs, but on this night, things turned intense as Edwards opted for a more physical approach in his battle against The King.
With just under four minutes left in the second quarter, Edwards set the tone when he assisted Julius Randle on a layup and then got right up in James’s face, flexing as if to send a clear message: this was no friendly encounter. His defensive posture intensified during the next few possessions; he pushed James, trying to assert his presence in the post, a bold move against a four-time NBA MVP.
When asked after the game about his confrontational style, Edwards didn’t shy away from the physicality he was aiming for. “Yeah, it’s gonna be physical, man,” he explained. “I’m not gonna say I was trying to make a point, but just letting him know that we’re here. You ain’t just gonna push us around all night. I mean, because I’m not gonna lie, he’s strong. It’s hard to keep him from getting where he wants to go—I was glad he missed that layup.”
Their budding friendship, forged during Team USA’s gold medal run in Paris, only fueled the rivalry on the court. Edwards respects James immensely but made it clear that he won’t hold back when it comes to competing. “He’s a lot stronger than me. But just letting him know that we’re gonna be here all night. I’m gonna be a pest to him. Whenever I get on him, I’m gonna try to get up under his skin. Because we played together, he was like a big brother to me,” he said, recognizing the guidance James provided in developing his game.
This isn’t Edwards’s first time going toe-to-toe with basketball royalty. Over his playoff journey, he’s repeatedly stepped up to the challenge, trash-talking legends like Kevin Durant and recently poking fun at Luka Doncic after nailing a shot while Doncic was defending him. Edwards has made it evident that whether he knows them personally or not, he has no intention of backing down when it comes to asserting himself on the court.
The Timberwolves are thriving with this fearless mindset, and Edwards’s determination is a crucial part of that resurgence. He’s staking his claim, and the league is sure to take notice.
