‘NBA on Prime’ analysts against Anthony Edwards dapping Spurs bench during game
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards shook hands with the San Antonio Spurs bench with over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 6, a move that drew criticism from former NBA players and analysts.
- Analysts Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, and Udonis Haslem expressed disapproval, with Haslem emphasizing that such gestures should be reserved for after the game to maintain team leadership and morale.
- Edwards explained his decision by stating he knew he would not return to the game and wanted to show respect early to the Spurs for their performance.
- The Spurs defeated the Timberwolves 139-109 to advance to the Western Conference finals, with Edwards contributing 24 points despite earlier knee injuries in the series.
- The incident sparked a debate about sportsmanship and timing of respect gestures in competitive basketball contexts.