Anthony Edwards Responds to Backlash on Congratulating Spurs During Wolves' Loss in New Video

Anthony Edwards responded to criticism from Dirk Nowitzki, Udonis Haslem and fans regarding his decision to shake hands with San Antonio Spurs players before the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves' elimination loss playoff loss in a video posted Saturday to his YouTube channel.

Edwards went over to the Spurs bench as the Timberwolves trailed by more than 30 points with eight minutes left on May 15 in Game 6 of the conference semifinals.

"Yes, eight minutes in the game, but we're not going back in the game," Edwards said about that decision at the beginning of the video. "When you win a playoff series, everybody's celebrating at the end of the game, so they're gonna be smiling while I'm pissed off, and we just lost.

"So I was just like, 'S--t, let me go and congratulate these boys, because I ain't trying to be kiking with you all after you all whooped my ass.'"

Edwards added that he hadn't wanted to shake congratulate the Spurs at all.

"Then what would they have been saying about me? That would have been a whole other conversation," Edwards said.

The Timberwolves were ultimately eliminated minutes after Edwards spoke with the Spurs in a 139-109 Game 6 loss.

Edwards said after the game the bench visit was him "just trying to get [the Spurs] the respect they deserve."

The Timberwolves star once again praised the Spurs when asked if the video published Saturday if he felt the Wolves and Spurs were on track to establish a rivalry in the future.

"Hell yeah, it's a rivalry," Edwards answered.

He added: "I have nothing bad to say about the Spurs. They balled... but we'll be back."

Nowitzki and Haslem said in a postgame appearance on NBA on Prime they felt Edwards should have waited until after the final buzzer.

 "As great as Ant is as a basketball player, there's still some growth for him as well, because as a leader, I would not have walked down there and shook their hand," Haslem said. "As a leader of my troops and my guys, I would not show that weakness. The game is not over. I got eight minutes left. I still got smoke coming out of my ears because I'm so damn mad we're losing."

Haslem added, "I don't think, if they would've beaten San Antonio, [Victor Wembanyama] would've went down there and shook his hand with eight minutes left. I don't think so— think? I damn sure know Wemby wouldn't have went down there and shook his hand."

The Spurs were leading 128-95 when Edwards went over to the bench after subbing out for the last time. He finished the game having led his team with 24 points on 9-for-26 shooting from the field.

San Antonio has since advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where Wembanyama led his team to a series-opening double-overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder but has since suffered two straight losses to the defending NBA champions.