Anthony Edwards gives Spurs fans the response they wanted after playoff exit
· Yahoo Sports
Anthony Edwards did not try to downplay Minnesota’s playoff exit after the Timberwolves were knocked out by the San Antonio Spurs in Minneapolis.
When asked about the feeling between the teams, he did not try to hide from it, and his response will have Spurs fans taking notice.
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Rather than dismissing the matchup, Edwards embraced it, praised the Spurs, and made it clear Minnesota expect to respond in the future.
Anthony Edwards embraces rivalry talk after loss to Spurs
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty ImagesAsked whether the Spurs and Timberwolves could become a true rivalry, Edwards did not hesitate.
“Hell yeah, hell yeah, hell yeah it’s a rivalry,” he said, in a clip shared on X.
What stood out was that this came after a playoff defeat, not a win, and not a moment where he would want to hype up the other side.
Edwards went on to say he tipped his hat to San Antonio’s young players, adding: “I have nothing bad to say about the Spurs, they balled.”
He also made it clear Minnesota were not done: “But we’ll be back.”
That is the right tone for a rivalry. No excuses, just respect after defeat and a promise that the next meeting will mean something.
San Antonio gave Edwards every reason to say it
The Spurs did not just edge past Minnesota. They closed out the series in emphatic fashion, finishing Game 6 with a 139-109 win at Target Center.
The box score told the story. Stephon Castle finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds, Victor Wembanyama added 19 points and three blocks, and De’Aaron Fox contributed 21 points and nine assists.
Edwards had already been criticised for going over to the Spurs bench before the end of Game 6, but he later explained he just wanted to show respect.
That should not be seen as weakness, just an honest acknowledgement that San Antonio had earned the moment.
This is how real NBA rivalries start
A single quote does not create a rivalry. It takes repeated meetings, shared history, star power and a reason for both teams to care.
Spurs vs Timberwolves now has all of that. San Antonio eliminated Minnesota in six games, and Edwards recognised publicly that the matchup has become something more.
The regular season had already set the stage. Minnesota won the series 2-1, but the Spurs won the bigger battle in the playoffs.
There was also the 55-point Edwards night in January, when Wembanyama answered with 39 points as the Spurs won 126-123.
Those were not just empty numbers, either. Edwards averaged 28.8 points for the season, while Wembanyama put up 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, according to Basketball Reference.
Edwards gave Spurs fans the respect they wanted
Spurs fans did not need Edwards to validate anything. Their team did that by winning the series.
But his words still matter. It means something when a rival star says it out loud after being eliminated.
Edwards made it clear San Antonio are not just another opponent. They are a team he respects, and one he expects to see again with even more on the line.
The Spurs have Wembanyama, Castle, Fox and a playoff breakthrough. The Timberwolves still have Edwards, pride and a reason to circle the next meeting.
It does not guarantee this will define the Western Conference for years. But Edwards has now given it the ingredient every rivalry needs: respect, with unfinished business behind it.
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