How Anthony Edwards Helped His Old Teammate Beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals

What Happened at Fanatics Fest?

Imagine a big fan party in New York called Fanatics Fest. On Friday, a basketball player named Anthony Edwards (he plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves) talked to fans and reporters. He said something cool:

• He gave his old teammate Karl-Anthony Towns (now with the New York Knicks) advice before every game of the NBA Finals.
• The Knicks were playing against the San Antonio Spurs, a team Edwards knows really well.
• Edwards told Towns little tips on how to play against the Spurs and their super-tall star, Victor Wembanyama (nicknamed "Wemby").

The Friendship Behind the Advice

Edwards and Towns used to play together on the Timberwolves from the 2020-21 season to the 2023-24 season. After that, Towns was traded (meaning swapped to another team) to the Knicks.

Even though they are on different teams now:

• They are still good friends.
• Towns shouted out Edwards in an interview after winning the championship.
• He said Edwards and his old teammates "made me better" and he is "forever grateful."

Important Point: Edwards and Towns talk all the time, even after being on different teams. Friendship in sports can last!

How the Knicks Won

The Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals by winning five games (they only lost one series game total, so it was a "five-game victory" meaning the series ended 4–1 or similar best-of-seven format). After the win:

1. Towns called Edwards on FaceTime (a video chat) at about 3 in the morning.
2. Edwards was "turned up" (super excited/happy).
3. Towns thanked him for the help.

ESPN’s Kalan Hooks shared video of Edwards talking about this.

Why Edwards Knew So Much About the Spurs

Edwards saw the Spurs a LOT this season:

• His Timberwolves played the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs (San Antonio won 4 games to 2).
• They also played 3 times in the regular season.
• That’s a total of 9 matchups against San Antonio.

The Knicks only played the Spurs:

• 2 times in the regular season
• Plus 1 NBA Cup final
• Total: 3 times (which is three times less than Minnesota’s 9)

So Edwards had way more experience against Wemby and the Spurs.

Important Point: Edwards gave Towns a "cheat code" — tips like which players like to go which way on the court and how to handle Wemby. Towns "passed the test" by winning!

Wembanyama’s Performance and Towns’ Defense

Wembanyama is a very tall, skilled player. In the Finals:

• Games 2 and 3: He scored 30.5 points per game and shot 56.4% (very good).
• Games 1, 4, and 5: He shot only 33.8% (and 21.7% from three-point range — not as good).

Towns played a big role in defending Wembanyama (trying to stop him from scoring). He was even recognized for his great defense. Maybe the advice from Edwards helped!

Summary

• Anthony Edwards gave his old teammate Karl-Anthony Towns tips before every NBA Finals game against the Spurs.
• Edwards knew the Spurs well because his team played them 9 times this season.
• The Knicks won the Finals, Towns defended Wembanyama well, and the two friends celebrated together.
• Their close friendship shows that teammates can stay bonded even after trading teams.

FAQ

Q1: Who is Anthony Edwards?
A: He is a guard (a type of basketball player) for the Minnesota Timberwolves who used to play with Towns and helped him with advice.

Q2: What does "trade" mean in basketball?
A: It means a player is sent from one team to another team, usually in exchange for other players or picks.

Q3: Why is Victor Wembanyama hard to play against?
A: He is extremely tall and talented, scoring lots of points, so teams need special plans to defend him.

Q4: What is a "cheat code" in this story?
A: It’s a fun way Edwards described the secret tips he gave Towns about how the Spurs and Wemby play.

Q5: How did Towns thank Edwards?
A: He shouted him out on TV and called him on FaceTime at 3 a.m. after winning the championship.