Late in the third quarter of the 12th game of his playoff career, Timberwolves rising superstar Anthony Edwards backpedaled down the floor while giving his idol, Kevin Durant, a piece of his mind.
“Yeah! What’d I say? What I say?” Edwards repeated to a smiling Durant. It was a bold decision by Edwards, who, at the time, had yet to win a playoff series while Durant had two titles, two Finals MVPs, and a league MVP to his name.
Eight days later, Edwards backed up his words, putting up 40 points, nine rebounds, and six assists to help his Wolves complete a series sweep over the Suns — the first playoff series win of his career and the third in Minnesota’s young franchise history.
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Over a year later, Edwards has since added three more series victories to his tally. Fittingly, each series win has come against at least one of the game’s titans, with the victory over Durant and Devin Booker’s Suns setting the tone.
Still months away from his 24th birthday, Edwards has gotten the best of some of the NBA’s best on the league’s premier stage. As he eyes the first title of his career and Minnesota’s franchise history, here’s a look back at each of the legends he’s defeated along the way.
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Anthony Edwards timeline of playoff series wins
Through seven series, Edwards has posted a 4-3 record in playoff series. Edwards eliminated a Finals MVP in each of his first four series wins, though Stephen Curry was limited to just 13 minutes in the 2025 second round.
The list of Finals MVPs is Durant, Curry, Nikola Jokic and LeBron James and the expanded list of complementary stars includes Booker, Jamal Murray, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
Here’s a timeline of the series:
MORE: Where Anthony Edwards ranks among best remaining players in the NBA playoffs
2024 First Round: Timberwolves 4, Suns 0 — Kevin Durant
Stats: 31.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 6.3 apg
Edwards’ first-ever series win was also the first playoff series sweep in Minnesota’s franchise history. He and the Wolves eliminated a Suns team headlined by a two-time Finals MVP in Durant, and Edwards had plenty to say about it.
Ant on KD: “I watch every last one of his games since I been about 5 … excited to play with him this summer, talk a little trash let him know I sent him home” pic.twitter.com/zyPnYALBgi
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) April 29, 2024
2024 Western Conference Semifinals: Timberwolves 4, Nuggets 3 — Nikola Jokic
Stats: 27.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.7 apg
Minnesota knocked off the defending champions thanks in large part to Edwards’ efforts in an instantly classic seven-game series. The Wolves orchestrated a historic Game 7 comeback to dethrone reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and the champs on their home floor, and Edwards delivered one of the game’s signature moments.
2025 First Round: Timberwolves 4, Lakers 1 — LeBron James
Stats: 26.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 6.2 apg
The Wolves’ return to the playoffs came against a high-profile foe, as they were set to take on four-time Finals MVP in James, Doncic, and the Lakers. Edwards & Co. didn’t seem fazed, as they stole home court in Game 1 and methodically completed a five-game series win.
“Make that next step now. Come on” – lebron to anthony Edwards pic.twitter.com/IneUuWue45
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) May 1, 2025
2025 Western Conference Semifinals: Timberwolves 4, Warriors 1 — Steph Curry
Stats: 26.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 5.6 apg
As a follow-up to the opening round win over L.A., Minnesota took on 2022 Finals MVP Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and the Warriors in the semifinals. And while Curry was limited to just 13 minutes in the series, Edwards didn’t take Golden State lightly.
The Wolves needed just five games to move to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year and the third time in franchise history.
MORE: Ranking every Conference Finalist’s chances of winning the NBA title
Anthony Edwards playoff records, stats
Through seven playoff series, Edwards has won 20 games and posted averages of 27.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the playoffs. In his first five NBA seasons, Edwards has made four playoff appearances and moved to first in the record book in a few categories.
Edwards’ 20 playoff wins are a franchise record, as are his five playoff games of 40-plus points. He enters the 2025 Western Conference Finals 34 points shy of Kevin Garnett for first all-time on Minnesota’s playoff scoring list.
In Game 5 of the second round against Golden State, Edwards became the sixth-youngest player to reach 1,000 career playoff points. The only players to reach the milestone at a younger age were Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Jayson Tatum, James and Durant, a group of four Finals MVPs.
Anthony Edwards playoff stats
| Stat | Value |
| Series (Record) | 7 (4-3) |
| Wins | 20 |
| PPG | 27.4 |
| RPG | 6.5 |
| APG | 5.6 |
| FG% | 46.8 |
| 3P% | 38.9 |
| FT% | 80.2 |
| SPG | 1.5 |
| BPG | 0.9 |
