LeBron James Reveals Advice to Anthony Edwards After Lakers' Loss to Wolves
Anthony Edwards leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a first-round victory over LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers may not have been a complete passing-of-the-torch moment for the King, but it did represent a battle of two different generations.
And James was happy to give the 23-year-old some advice along the way.
James discussed his interactions with Edwards during Thursday's episode of his Mind the Game show with Steve Nash (23:25 mark) and revealed some of the advice he provided.
"For me telling him to take the next step, it doesn't always mean, okay, Western Conference Finals and now you've gotta be in the Finals," he said. "It's like, take the next step for you as a person and you as a player. Continue to get better and better. Your time is going to come whenever.
"Sometimes we have no control over that next step as far as going to the Finals and winning. We don't always have the opportunity to do that. But we do have control over making the next step in our own individual journey. And that's what it was about because I love seeing him. … It's a proud feeling for me being in the league for so long."
James also mentioned how important continuing the sport's legacy is when mentoring younger players.
"I think that moment for me is understanding and recognizing the next generation and someone who can do it and be great for a long time in our league," he said. "That's what our game is all about is being able to pass it down to the next generation so they can continue to do great things."
While they were opponents in the first round this time around, they were teammates when they helped lead the United States men's basketball team to a gold medal during the 2024 Paris Olympics. And it seems like Edwards took full advantage of that opportunity to learn from some of the league's all-time greats.
"Soaking in everything from myself, to KD to Steph," James said. "You could just see, he was like a little kid in a candy store."
Edwards has now knocked two of his Olympic teammates out of the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, as he also eliminated Kevin Durant's Phoenix Suns last year. What's more, he is facing Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors in the second round, although Curry is sidelined by a hamstring injury.
The Timberwolves star was dialed in during the first round against James and Co. while averaging 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
He took over in Game 4 with 43 points, nine rebounds and six assists, which gave Minnesota a commanding 3-1 lead before it eventually closed the Lakers out in five. James suffered a knee injury in that final contest, but it was already clear at that point that Edwards' side was going to win the series.
Edwards is still looking for that first championship on a journey that James is all too familiar with since he won his first ring in his age-27 season in 2012.
And the King seemed excited to watch his younger counterpart eventually take that step as well.
