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Video: Anthony Edwards 'Felt Bad' Eliminating Kevin Durant, Suns from NBA Playoffs

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVAugust 17, 2024

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Kevin Durant #7 and Anthony Edwards #5 of Team USA pose for a photo after winning the Men's Gold Medal Game on August 10, 2024 at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said Saturday that he "felt bad" about sweeping Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs last season.

During a panel with Durant and former NBA player Jalen Rose at Fanatics Fest in New York City, Ant described what he was feeling when he played a significant role in eliminating his idol from the postseason:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

"I felt bad a little bit, only because he's my favorite player of all time. I didn't wanna send him home like that."<br><br>-Anthony Edwards on what it was like eliminating KD in the playoffs 🤣🤝<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/AliyahFun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AliyahFun</a>) <a href="https://t.co/CuoLSffUqK">pic.twitter.com/CuoLSffUqK</a>

"I felt bad a little bit, only because he's my favorite player of all time," Edwards said. "I didn't wanna send him home like that."

Later, Durant referred to Edwards as "the baby GOAT."

NBA @NBA

The Summer of KD &amp; Ant continues at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FanaticsFest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FanaticsFest</a>! <a href="https://t.co/XvAaXknhim">pic.twitter.com/XvAaXknhim</a>

Although Edwards and Durant were on opposing sides in the playoffs, they joined forces at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris this month, teaming up to help lead Team USA to a gold medal.

The 23-year-old Edwards has long expressed his admiration for Durant, calling him his favorite player and naming him as one of the top five players in NBA history.

They got the chance to go head-to-head in last season's playoffs, and while Edwards has a long way to go before rivaling KD's resume, which includes two championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards with the Golden State Warriors, Ant got the better of him in their series.

Edwards was spectacular in the four-game sweep, averaging 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 3.5 three-pointers made and 2.0 steals per contest.

He also helped lead the T-Wolves past the then-defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the second round before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

Given the obvious mutual respect between Edwards and Durant, basketball fans enjoyed the opportunity to see them as teammates in Paris.

They shared the court quite often during the Olympics and seemed to feed off each other at times, and both of them provided a spark off the bench.

KD was Team USA's third-leading scorer with 13.8 points per game, as it went undefeated and beat host France in the gold medal game, while Edwards averaged 12.8 points per contest as the United States' youngest player.

It is unclear if Durant and Edwards will ever get another opportunity to team up, but they figure to have more epic battles against each other in the coming years in the competitive Western Conference.