Minnesota Timberwolves standout Anthony Edwards recently received a significant token of respect from NBA legend Gary Payton.
Following his impressive 30-point, five-assist effort in a victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, a performance that saw MVP chants rain down as he exited the court, Edwards approached the Hall of Famer Gary Payton. The game, won by the Timberwolves with a score of 117-110, gave Minnesota a crucial 3-1 advantage in the Western Conference semifinals.
During their post-game interaction at the Chase Center, Payton presented Edwards with a signed throwback jersey from his time with the Seattle SuperSonics.
Edwards shared his admiration for Payton, stating, “I went up to him because of course I hear all the stuff about him, and then I go watch film on him and he was really like that. I told him like, `man I`m a big fan and I love the way you guarded man.` And even offensively, he had a lot of game.”
He also drew a comparison between Payton`s defensive prowess and that of his son, Warriors guard Gary Payton II, noting, “His son kind of plays defense similar to him. His son [is] super handsy [and] physical.”
Edwards continues to deliver strong performances in the current playoff series, averaging 27.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and four assists. His 30 points in Game 4 marked his 13th career game with 30 or more points in the postseason.
