Anthony Edwards recalls the joys his family experienced waiting to watch Kevin Durant play on Christmas: 'It was just special for us'

“You don’t have to have cable to have ABC at the crib. So, s—, KD [Durant] would play on Christmas,” Edwards said. “Me, my mama, my grandma, my brother, we’d all be sitting right there watching him. It was just special for us.”

Many years later, the superstar guard became one of the best young players in the league, and he is living the dream he once only imagined. This Christmas, he’ll step onto the court with the world watching as his Timberwolves face the Dallas Mavericks, led by the dazzling Luka Dončić.

The Mavericks are rolling, sitting fourth in the Western Conference with an 8-2 record over their last 10 games. They’ve been a tough nut to crack, especially for Minnesota, which has struggled this season after last year’s impressive third-place finish and a run to the Western Conference Finals.

The festive action

That isn’t Edwards’ first rodeo under the bright lights, but the stakes feel different. Last season, Minnesota fell short against these Mavericks in the playoffs, and this matchup is a chance to rewrite the narrative. He is now a two-time All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist, carrying his team's hopes and his family's joy into the game.

The Christmas schedule is packed with the highly anticipated clash between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. But the 23-year-old guard’s game is the most special to him, who, as a kid, grew up idolizing NBA stars and is now one himself.

The Timberwolves, now fighting to rediscover their groove, have lost over half as many games as they did all of last season. Whether or not they’ll manage to upset the Mavs, one thing is sure: the guard will take the court with the same joy and determination he had as a kid watching KD.