The best Anthony Edwards quotes, ranked
It’s no secret that Anthony Edwards has taken the crown as the best quote in the NBA.
From the moment he arrived in our minds as the top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he’s shown himself to among the most candid dudes in recent memory. So candid, that his interviews have become gold. You never know what he’ll say. Most often, he’s playful — reminiscent of a friend you’ve known forever, the one who has a joke for everything, no matter the situation.
Above all, he’s honest. He says exactly how he feels about himself, his teammates, and his opponents. Unabashed confidence. Unintentional wit. Rare self-awareness. These are qualities that make for post-game dynamite, cementing Anthony Edwards as a juggernaut of both the locker room and the press room.
Welcome to the Anthony Edwards Quote Tracker!
The fun will never stop. Just as we run to the television any time Steph Curry is on fire, you’ll be able to run here for all of the best quotes from Minnesota’s newest star. We’ll update this page as his career moves on, but for now, here are the best quotes from Anthony Edwards:
1. “I’m smarter than a lot of people think. I just look like this.”
It’s the self-awareness that makes Anthony Edwards such a dynamic personality. Ant gave this answer when asked about his advanced feel for a rookie, noting that other teams were quick to try to attack him in the first month of his NBA career. In two short sentences, he summed up all of the criticism he faced in the pre-draft process.
There’s a deeper plight to what Edwards is saying. He isn’t just a jock, a dumb athlete who made it to the highest level based on natural athleticism alone. He smiles all the time and speaks freely, but don’t misconstrue his joy and honesty for unintelligence. Dropping this gem, in response to a pointed question in which the reporter is surprised about his advanced reads a month into his NBA career, set the tone for Edwards’ career.
2. “I was already living in a pandemic, because all I wanted to do was get better.”
This was our formal introduction to Anthony Edwards, who gave this interview after his performance at Klutch Sports’ pre-draft pro day. Edwards had just finished a workout of shooting and transition drills, showcasing his ability to score the ball in NBA actions. A smooth jumper and explosive athleticism paled in comparison to his appearance on Sportscenter.
Seriously, how great is that quote? This is October 2020, when we knew the implications of the global pandemic — still, Edwards finds the humor. The subtle joy that comes to his face when he realizes what he’s about to say, a tempting look broadcasting his uncertainty of how it will land, quickly wiped away by ESPN’s pre-packaged highlight tape. We would soon realize that it’s best to just keep the camera on him.
3. “He can tell us, ‘Be in the gaps, contest everything, no easy layups, contest every layup, contest all dunks,’ everything… but shit, he just saying words, we gotta go out there and do the shit.”
There’s a certain snarky, Captain Obvious-style of response from athletes to reporters when they’re not fond of their questions, best exemplified by Taurean Prince when he was at Baylor. This is not that.
Instead, Ant lays into himself and his teammates’ lack of focus on defense by bringing out the obvious answer: head coach Chris Finch cannot play in the games, for he is not an actual NBA player — and the Timberwolves would be much better off if they simply just remembered what he said and acted upon it. It’s a window into the way Edwards’ mind finds the quickest answer for the questions he faces.
I will contend that “…he just saying words, we gotta go out there and do the shit” is as good of an example of buy-in that you’ll find from an NBA player.
4. “Motherf***er’s 7’2, 280 pounds… like it ain’t nothing we could do about it.”
I stood next to Giannis in person once. Motherf***er is definitely 7’2, 280 pounds, and I would soil myself if I had to guard him on a basketball court.
Edwards’ southern accent really comes through here in the way he says ‘seven,’ opting for a sound that is much quicker than the word itself. The larger sentiment is true: Giannis is unstoppable. No matter if it’s NBA players or an army of school children, the Greek Freak is going to score. Ant told his teammate (rookie Leandro Bolmaro) that he got the full Giannis experience last year, and that he’s never seen anything like it.
“He’s amazing. There’s nothing new I can say about Giannis. He’s unstoppable.” I agree.
5. “To me, the best rim protector in the league is Porzingis. Anytime I go against Porzingis, I don’t get no layups. I don’t get why we couldn’t finish on Rudy Gobert. He put no fear in my heart.”
I think I could listen to Anthony Edwards talk about other players all damn day. While I’m not sure Rudy Gobert has a high approval rating among casual NBA fans, it’s damning to hear another player reveal that he doesn’t understand why everyone thinks Gobert is the league’s best defender. And then we remember that we’re dealing with Anthony Edwards, the most confident player in the league.
6. “Where you from, Jim? I like your accent. It’s tough. I want to learn how to talk like that. But ask your question again, I was too much listening to your accent.”
I’m always a fan of accents, and never really a fan of accent impersonations. The blank look on Edwards’ face is the punchline — nothing that the reporter is asking him is of any importance. Before anything else, he must figure out the origin of such a magnificent accent.
“Where you from, Jim?” comes with perfect timing, expressionless, as if the question would find the solution to life’s problems. On the answer, relief shines through. Ireland. Okay, that’s out of the way. Let’s talk hoops.
7. “There’s something to do, I bet I’d be A1 from day one.”
This entire segment is incredible. “I could’ve went to the MLB” rolls off the tongue as fact, not wishful thinking. “Straight clean up on aisle 3, come get it” serves as a direct threat to any of us who dare challenge his baseball abilities.
It doesn’t matter the sport: “If it’s some money on the line, I’m gon’ go do it.” The strength of this clip resides in the fact that these types of interviews are usually among the most boring forms of content. These clips don’t have a target audience — and also, every other NBA player is much more boring.
Anthony Edwards is going to have his ups and downs — but when he speaks, we all win.