It’s safe to say Anthony Edwards came away as the winner in his duel against Kevin Durant in the Suns-Wolves series.
Edwards shone for the Timberwolves in the franchise’s four-game sweep of the Suns as he averaged 31 points, eight rebounds and 6.3 rebounds.
There were plenty of heated moments between him and KD during the series, but Durant has nothing but love for Edwards.
“So impressed with Ant,” Durant said after Phoenix’s 122-116 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. “My favorite player to watch. Just grown so much since he came into the league. At 22, just his love for the game shines bright.”
Ant and KD shared plenty of memorable moments throughout the series.
Perhaps the best was in Game 1, when Edwards hit a jumper over KD and could be seen trash-talking his self-confessed childhood hero.
All Durant could do was smile.
“That’s one of the reasons I like him the most because he just loves basketball, he’s grateful to be in this position, he’s taken advantage of every opportunity he’s gotten. Love everything about Ant. Everything,” Durant said. “Be watching him going forward. I know he’s going to go out there and play extremely hard every single night. Was really impressed with him and he’s going to be somebody I’m following the rest of his career. ”
After the sweep, Edwards told reporters just how sweet it was to beat KD at his own game.
“It’s the best feeling in the world to send him home. Out. Whatever you want to call it,” Edwards said. “I don’t even think I outplayed him, he played great throughout the whole series, but my team outplayed his. To come out victorious is the best feeling ever, to beat him, because he’s my favorite player of all time.”
Although KD’s NBA season is over, he may not be able to escape Edwards’ trash talk at the Paris Olympics.
“I got the utmost respect for KD, man, he said. “He comes in and competes every night. I watched every last one of his games since I’ve been about five. I love that guy, man. I’m excited to play with him this summer, man. Talk a little trash and let him know I sent him home.”