In a revealing clip from the "Starting Five" docuseries, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards opened up about the team's shocking loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 Western Conference Finals. Edwards admitted that the Wolves, fresh off a hard-fought Game 7 win in the previous round, underestimated their opponents heading into the series. This overconfidence, Edwards said, ultimately led to their downfall as the Mavericks won the series in just five games.
"We thought we was gonna sweep them. As soon we won game seven. We like yeah, we did boys cook. We know what's going on. We did underestimate them. That's just honestly what happened."
"That's why we lost. I'm happy for them, though. I ain't gonna lie. I'm happy for them. I'm happy for Kyrie. But we, like, we just don't make other players beat us. I mean, at this point, it's too late to talk about it, so it don't even matter."
"But I'm happy for Kyrie that, like, he get a chance to go back to the finals without Bron. show people, like, he don't need Bron, like, yeah, you know what I mean? 1:11 So I'm happy for him."
"I'm mad I didn't get to chop it up with him after the game. Shoutout to Luka too. I'll be back. I've got a lot of years, I'll be back. I'll be back better, man. I'm good. Told my teammates, pick your own heads, man. Take your losses, how you take your wins, man. Chin up, man. Let's move on."
The Timberwolves were one of the top teams in the Western Conference all season, and having just triumphed in a grueling series, they felt confident heading into the conference finals. However, that confidence quickly turned into complacency.
The Mavericks , led by superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving , capitalized on Minnesota’s arrogance, winning the first three games of the series and putting the Wolves on the brink of elimination. Despite salvaging some pride with a Game 4 win to avoid the sweep, Minnesota couldn’t muster a full comeback, eventually falling in five games.
Edwards spoke candidly about how the Wolves' overconfidence was a key factor in their loss. It was a lesson learned the hard way, but Edwards was also quick to express his admiration for the Mavericks, particularly Irving, who was heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time since his Cleveland Cavaliers days with LeBron James .
Edwards' respect for Irving’s performance speaks to the level of competition and mutual admiration that exists among the NBA's elite players, even in defeat. The Timberwolves entered the series as favorites, but their quick dismissal by the Mavericks was a sobering reminder that no team can be taken lightly in the playoffs, regardless of the seeding or regular-season performance.
Edwards wrapped up his thoughts by offering encouragement to his teammates, taking the loss in stride and promising to come back stronger. The 2024 Western Conference Finals served as a learning experience for the Timberwolves, and Edwards’ candid reflections on the series highlight his maturity and determination to grow from the defeat.
With Edwards' leadership and the team’s young core, the Wolves are poised to learn from their mistakes and remain a force in the Western Conference for years to come.
Related: Anthony Edwards And Wolves Love Julius Randle's Competitive Spirit
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