There’s a viral clip from an old Anthony Edwards interview that pops up on social media often in a certain corner of the basketball internet. It is usually used as a way to show that something is delusional. In the video, Edwards says “They got KD, but we got Jaden McDaniels.”
The video has circulated again during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first round series with the Phoenix Suns in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Only this time, Edwards’ comments sound prescient.
The Wolves beat the Suns, 105-93, in Game 2 on Tuesday night to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Minnesota is so much bigger and more physical than Phoenix, and that’s played out in a major way through the start of the series. The Wolves are playing with force and powering through contact, and there’s nothing the Suns can do about it.
Edwards only shot 3-of-12 from the floor in Game 2, but a teammate picked up the slack for the Wolves: Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels popped off for 25 points and eight rebounds in the win while taking on the defensive assignment of guarding Durant and Devin Booker for long stretches. Durant finished 6-of-15 from the floor for only 18 points in the loss for Phoenix.
Play the Edwards clip:
Edwards was talking smack to Durant after big shots throughout the Wolves’ Game 1 win. He also called Durant his “favorite player of all-time” after the game.
The Wolves finished No. 1 in defensive efficiency this year, and while Rudy Gobert gets the brunt of the credit for that, McDaniels deserves a ton of praise, too. Playing next to two 7-footers, McDaniels is massive for a small forward at 6’10 with a wingspan over 7-foot. He’s the exact type of big, versatile defender this Suns team is missing.
McDaniels vs. Durant doesn’t look like such a mismatch anymore. Edwards knew exactly what he wanted to say.