Anthony Edwards faced the media following the Timberwolves’ 124-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, which ended their playoff run.
“They beat us fair and square,” Edwards acknowledged. “They were the better team this series.”
Despite the defeat, Edwards remained optimistic about the team’s future. “We’ll learn from this and come back stronger,” he said. “This isn’t the end for us.”
As disappointing of a result as it was for Edwards, he was able to recognize that he’s just starting his journey, having completed only his fifth season in the NBA.
“I don’t know why people would think it would hurt. It’s exciting for me,” Edwards said. “I’m 23. I get to do it a whole bunch of times. I’m hurt more so for Mike [Conley]. I came up short for Mike. We tried last year, we couldn’t get it. We tried again this year. We’ll try again next year. But hurt is a terrible word to use. I’m good.”
Many fans have also pointed out that Ant is only 23 years of age. The great Michael Jordan was 27 when he won his first title.
When asked about the team’s growth, he responded, “We’ve come a long way. This experience will only make us better.”
Edwards also praised the Thunder’s play. “They executed their game plan well. Credit to them for advancing,” he said.
Looking ahead, Edwards emphasized the importance of the offseason. “We’ll take some time to rest, then get back to work. The goal is to go further next year.”
It seemed to give him fresh motivation.
“I’m going to work my butt off this summer,” Edwards said. “Nobody’s going to work harder than me this summer. I’ll tell you that much.”
READ MORE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Crowned MVP, Leads OKC to NBA Finals
