Anthony Edwards Explains His Gesture Toward Spurs Bench After Loss
Minnesota Timberwolves fans have watched their team build something real over the last few seasons. Friday night at Target Center, it ended the same way it has before. Too soon and too lopsided. The San Antonio Spurs closed out the Western Conference Semifinals with a 139-109 win in Game 6, taking the series 4-2 and sending the Wolves home for the summer.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 24 points but needed 26 shots to get there. Terrence Shannon added 21 off the bench, and Naz Reid chipped in 18, but it wasn't enough against a Spurs team that controlled the game with a relentless switch-heavy defense. Julius Randle managed just three points on 1-for-8 shooting. By the time the fourth quarter was winding down, the result was long decided.
That's when Edwards did something most stars don't bother with after a tough playoff loss. Instead of heading to the locker room, the 24-year-old walked over to the Spurs bench and went down the line, shaking hands with every coach and player he could find. The final minutes were still ticking away, and he was already showing San Antonio the respect he felt they earned.
"At that point, you know you ain't going back in, so you're just trying to get them the respect that they deserve," Edwards said.
Anthony Edwards on this move:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 16, 2026
"At that point, you know you ain't going back in, so you're just trying to get them the respect that they deserve." https://t.co/CSDVXrfuds
Anthony Edwards Earns Respect From Fans After Classy Moment
Fans watching from the stands and at home responded to the moment and made their feelings clear.
"Anthony Edwards is a class act for sure. Game recognizes game. Now the Spurs need to go beat the Thunder " one fan said.
"He lost the game but won respect, he still won in my book respect goes a long way," another added.
"Classy from Ant. Game was over and he showed respect. Sucks we couldn't pull it off this year but he fought like hell all series. Build around him properly this offseason," Another fan wrote.
"Class act. My guy needs to leave Minnesota," One noted.
"the only ethical player left in the west, please don't change Ant," one fan shared.
"That's real sportsmanship right there. Tough loss but Ant kept it classy," Another fan wrote.
This is the third straight postseason the Timberwolves have been blown out in an elimination game. Last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they trailed by 33 at halftime in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and lost by 30.
The year before that, in the 2024 conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks, they were down 29 at the break in Game 5 and ended up losing by 21. Edwards keeps showing up. The team around him keeps hitting the same wall when it matters most.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM.