After the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Mavs star Kyrie Irving sat down with the co-hosts of TNT’s Inside the NBA to discuss the victory.
Asked by Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley how he felt about being challenged by Timberwolves face of the franchise Anthony Edwards ahead of the series, a bemused Irving reveals that he “used it as a motivation.”
Kyrie Irving Finds Kindred Spirit in Anthony Edwards
“When I was sitting at home and I saw it, I was like, ‘It’s just a nod of respect’… I knew what type of game it was about to be for Game 1 and the rest of the series.”
“I used it as motivation… That’s a no fear mentality and that’s why we love Ant.” 💯
Kyrie on Ant calling him out ahead of Game 1 pic.twitter.com/Mp4zw9Qccl
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 23, 2024
“As a peer, I love that,” Irving says, answering a similar question at the podium. “I love it man. It’s nothing better.”
Kyrie Irving on the Anthony Edwards matchup: “As a peer, I love that. It’s nothing better. When Ant was a little younger, I’m sure he was watching me. When he was in high school, I was watching him. It’s more of those exciting matchups that I look forward to. Right after the game… pic.twitter.com/D8cIV8oqKT
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 23, 2024
“Right after (Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals), it was funny because he said it right then and there,” he says laughing.
“I think the whole world was looking like, ‘Okay, you better know what you’re talking about, Ant.’”
When Ant was a little bit younger, I’m sure he was watching me. When he was in high school, I was watching him. So, for me, it’s one of those exciting matchups that I look forward to.
Edwards did actually check up Irving, although the Wolves certainly mixed the coverages. However, despite the young star’s confidence, Irving was all but unstoppable. Knifing his way through the defense time and time again, his silky scoring ability led to 24 first half points.
Unable to replicate that performance after they came out of the locker rooms, Irving went 1-9 from the field. He lost his touch completely in the fourth quarter, missing all six of his shot attempts. As Irving struggled to find the bottom of the net, Nickeil Alexander-Walker started the quarter as his primary defender.
Edwards closed the game guarding him.
“I respect that,” Irving says of Edwards’s confidence in his defensive ability, “and that ‘no fear’ mentality that he has is why I love him as a competitor and why I love him as a person.”
“When we’re on the court, I know he’s going to give it his all. I’m going to give it my all,” he continues. “At the end of the game, it’s all love. When we’re in between those lines, he knows what it is and I know what it is.”
