Wolves' Anthony Edwards Questions Receiving Only 4 Votes for All-NBA Defensive Team

Anthony Edwards thinks more people need to put respect on his name defensively.

Edwards told reporters Wednesday it was "crazy" that he received just four votes for the All-NBA Defensive Team.

Judging by the voting results, Edwards was considered tied for the 21st-best defender in the NBA this season. Teammates Rudy Gobert (first team) and Jaden McDaniels (second team) were given the nods for leading the Timberwolves' NBA-best defense in the regular season.

While Edwards is best known for his scoring prowess, he regularly locks in against opponents' best wing players in late-game situations. He was vital is slowing down a red-hot Jamal Murray in Minnesota's Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets in the second round.

"You gotta be physical. I think playing football helped me a lot growing up as a kid," Edwards told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. "You gotta initiate the contact, be the first one to hit and after that, it's a fight. We're in the ring."

Edwards says people who don't recognize his defensive prowess simply need to watch the game closer, and he may have a point. Defensive awards have long trended toward big men, who get credited for the rebounds, blocks and rim protection aided by their size, while more perimeter-oriented players get shut out.

Edwards will have to more consistently defend the best player on opposing teams to get the respect he wants, and he'll have a great opportunity facing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the Western Conference Finals.