Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

LeBron James Doesn’t Hold Back About Anthony Edwards’ Matchup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated May 27, 2025 12:35 PM ET

Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers from the first round of the NBA playoffs 4-1 on April 30.

Edwards, 23, averaged 26.8 points per game by the end of the series. He also played very tight and physical defense on James during each game.

“If that’s how it’s going to be played, then I don’t mind,” James said during the Sunday, May 25 episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with co-host and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Steve Nash. “Now it needs to be that on both ends.”

The four-time NBA Champion then went into detail to discuss the amount of physicality Edwards demonstrated on defense throughout that series.

“Like it was never explained to me that, and [Edwards] is giving me two hands all the way down the court,” he added.

Throughout the two all-stars' faceoff, Edwards constantly pushed James with two hands to prevent him from getting into an open spot on the court. The 40-year-old joked that Edwards pushed him back five yards and that if it was an NFL game, “that would still be a penalty” before showing enthusiasm about their matchup.

“But it was fun,” James continued. “It was competitive and you wonder what line are we crossing or if there is not a line at all.”

Throughout the Lakers' and Timberwolves' first-round series, Edwards was not called often for fouls as he constantly pushed James at half-court.

“If you doing that to everybody and [officials] don’t call it where’s the line being draw,” he said. “We preached that it’s different and knew you were not getting away with that.”

James noted that the playoffs have more physicality than the regular season, and because of this, fouls are typically called much less.

Edwards and the Timberwolves are competing in the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who hold a 3-1 lead over them heading into Game 4 on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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