Anthony Edwards is going to his second straight Western Conference finals after leading the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Golden State Warriors in their second-round series, 4-1.
The Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in Game 5 on Wednesday, 121-110, winning the last four games after dropping Game 1.
Edwards finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists and three blocks, while Julius Randle led the scoring with a game-high 29 points on top of eight rebounds and five assists.
Following the win, an old video of Edwards sharing a story from his pre-draft workout with the Warriors in 2020 resurfaced. Golden State had a chance to get the No. 1 overall pick in the lottery and use it on the then-Georgia standout. But Edwards said Warriors coach Steve Kerr wasn't impressed with him.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards drives past Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards drives past Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
"Before he came (to the pre-draft workout), I thought I was working hard," said the Timberwolves star in an interview last year, as shared by Courtside Buzz.
"I was going through the drills, and he kept stopping them, like, 'That's all you got?' I'm like, 'Bruh, I'm going as hard as you want me to go. What do you want me to do?' I was sweating like crazy."
Edwards added that he went to dinner that night with the Warriors. Kerr, however, still wasn't sold on him.
"They were still continuously telling me, 'You didn't work hard enough. If we had the number one pick, we wouldn't take you,'" continued the three-time All-Star.
"I was like, damn, that's crazy. Me and my trainer were at home after dinner, and we were talking, 'Man, we gotta pick it up. I don't know how, I don't know what we gotta do.' After that, I just became a madman in the gym."
The Timberwolves ended up with the top overall pick in 2020 and selected Edwards. The Warriors, meanwhile, got the No. 3 overall pick and drafted James Wiseman.
Edwards has become a bona fide star in the NBA, while Wiseman had an injury-riddled stint in Golden State, playing only 60 games. He is currently out of the league.