"F**k Kyrie": What Anthony Edwards Said About Kyrie Irving In Starting 5 & During The NBA Playoffs

Anthony Edwards has always been known for his bold personality and fearless attitude on and off the court, and that was never more apparent than in his comments about Kyrie Irving captured in the new sports docuseries Starting 5. His confidence is contagious, and he’s never shy about speaking his mind. After the Minnesota Timberwolves' impressive playoff run, Edwards was riding high, ready to take on any challenge. Fresh off a win against the Denver Nuggets in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, he set his sights on Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks, declaring on national television that guarding Irving in the Western Conference Finals would be “fun.” However, that bold statement would come back to haunt him.

In Netflix’s new series Starting 5, fans get a behind-the-scenes look at Edwards’ journey through the playoffs. In unseen footage from Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Edwards, known for his energy, appeared visibly exhausted, even asking teammate Jaden McDaniels to guard Irving instead. What seemed like a moment of playful bravado soon became a humbling reality, as Edwards struggled to keep up with Irving’s elite scoring and ball-handling. The Starting 5 series, which features several NBA players in its cast, captures the tension and regret as Edwards realizes that his words had poked a bear he wasn’t ready to face, setting the stage for a thrilling and unexpected showdown.

Related Starting 5 Soundtrack: Every Song In Netflix's NBA Documentary The Netflix NBA docuseries Starting 5 features a robust soundtrack full of hip-hop essentials, classics, and deep cuts with some surprising entries.

Ant Edwards' Quotes About Kyrie Irving Went Viral During The NBA Playoffs

It Set The Stage For A Showdown

Anthony Edwards’ bold comments about Kyrie Irving quickly went viral during the 2024 NBA Playoffs, which Starting 5 covered, sparking widespread excitement and anticipation for the Western Conference Finals matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks. After defeating the Denver Nuggets to advance to their first Conference Finals since 2004, Edwards expressed confidence in guarding Irving. Speaking to NBA on TNT, he said, "It's going to be fun, man. My matchup is going to be Kyrie, so that's going to be fun. We're going to see what I can do vs. him." His statement created immediate buzz, building anticipation for the showdown between the two star players.

However, Edwards’ comments soon became a point of regret, as seen in Netflix’s Starting 5 docuseries, where he openly wished he could take them back after the tough Game 1 loss. Edwards, visibly fatigued, told teammate Jaden McDaniels, "Jaden, you got Kyrie, I’m tired, man." He further admitted, "I should’ve left Kyrie alone going and saying that right after being dog tired fighting back from a Game 7, I wish I could go and take that back." His viral statement became part of the storyline leading into the series, feeding into the hype and pressure surrounding the matchup with Irving.

How Kyrie Irving Responded To Anthony Edwards' Quotes About Him

Kyrie Took It In Stride

On Wednesday evening, the Dallas Mavericks secured a 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road in Game 1. Kyrie Irving delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with 30 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one block while shooting 12/23 from the field in 40 minutes of play.

2024 Western Conference Finals Game Date Results Dallas at Minnesota May 22, 2024 108-105 (Dallas leads 1-0) Dallas at Minnesota May 24, 2024 109-108 (Dallas leads 2-0) Minnesota at Dallas May 26, 2024 107-116 (Dallas leads 3-0) Minnesota at Dallas May 28, 2024 105-100 (Dallas leads 3-1) Dallas at Minnesota May 30, 2024 124-103 (Dallas wins 4-1)

Kyrie responded to Edwards’ bold comments with a sense of respect and understanding, touched upon in Starting 5. He explained how Edwards’ words motivated him before the series. "I used it as a motivation," Irving said. "When I was sitting at home and I saw it, I was like, it's just a nod of respect. I also knew what type of game it was going to be. Game 1 and also for the rest of the series. I was at home with my family, watching Game 7, and then Ant comes out and says, 'I got Kyrie.' But also that's a no-fear mentality and that's why we love Ant."