Kyrie Irving Dissects Anthony Edwards’ Film From Lakers-Timberwolves Series
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving is one of several NBA veterans praising Anthony Edwards following the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round playoff win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Appearing on Game Within The Game, a film series co-hosted by Jordan Richard, Irving, and former NBA assistant coach Phil Handy, the nine-time All-Star dissected multiple sequences from Minnesota’s Game 5 victory — including one moment that displayed Edwards’ polish and poise under pressure.
“There was one play that I saw particularly,” Irving said. “Ant got to the elbow, headfaked, stepped over one step, and then shot like a floater — but it was really… his upper body was squared at the rim as if it was a jumper, but his legs were saying, ‘I’m jumping off the wrong leg.’”
Irving called it a move only high-level students of the game can execute.
“When you shoot that type of shot in that situation, that’s how I know you’ve studied the craft,” he said. “Also, you’ve invited your peers to know, ‘I’m the truth too.’ That’s just one of those, ‘You’re not gonna get me caught up in a fumble.’ Like, ‘I’m the truth,’ that type of killer mentality.”
He added further praise while breaking down another play.
“He’s in a lane of his own,” Irving said. “Anthony Edwards is probably one of the best one-leg, one-foot jumpers I’ve ever been around. This is just number one pick stuff right here. No shade on anybody else. Just number one pick stuff.”
Irving noted that the play didn’t even benefit from ideal floor spacing.
“This is what kind of gets us basketball nerds excited — the physicality of basketball. It’s a combat sport,” he said. “He’s able to get your momentum jumping back because look at the spacing. It’s not even the best spacing from Minnesota, but it gives everybody an opportunity to figure out how they’re going to be in help.”
Edwards averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in the five-game series. In the series-clinching Game 5, he finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, leading the Timberwolves to just their third appearance in the Western Conference semifinals.
Former Celtics forward Paul Pierce also weighed in on Edwards’ rise, attributing it to his time with Team USA during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
“This game was lost in the summer,” Pierce said on Speak. “Ant-Man went to the Olympics. He got up under KD, he got up under LeBron. He studied them — their work habits, their personality. So now if I gotta see y’all, I know how to attack y’all.”
“Why do you think he got comfortable enough to get in the game and just shove LeBron like that?” he continued. “This game was won in the summertime. Learning their tendencies, learning their personalities — come playoffs, I know what I need to do.”
After Game 5, LeBron James offered a message of respect as he approached Edwards on the court: “Make that next step now. Come on.”
While Edwards’ star continues to rise, some analysts are still cautious about declaring him the league’s next face.
“How many times has Jayson Tatum been to the Eastern Conference Finals? How many times has he been to the NBA Finals?” ESPN’s Jay Williams asked on First Take. “Brother could win multiple championships, and we’re just going to give it to Ant because he has a personality?”
Whether or not he becomes that figure, Anthony Edwards’ impact is already commanding attention from some of the NBA’s most respected voices like Kyrie Irving.
“That type of shot?” Irving said. “That tells me everything.”
