By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist
Before celebrating the new year, Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a great battle on the NBA floors. This also gave rise to a viral speech from Ant about his counterpart, to which the latter obviously responded.
Quite logically and symbolically, each team hoped to end the year on a good note. After all, it was better to start 2025 with a positive dynamic rather than the opposite. The twelve franchises which were on the floors NBA for New Year’s Eve therefore shared the same mission, without being able to fulfill it all. And in particular the Thunder and the Timberwolves, opposed for the occasion.
The evening of December 31 therefore promised to be thrilling at the Paycom Center, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards met for a high-flying duel. However, it was indeed the local of the stage who flew through the debates with 40 points scored and who offered the victory to Oklahoma City (113-105). This was well worth the congratulations of his victim of the evening, who clearly did not mince his words to do so.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dubbed by Anthony Edwards, he reacts
Anything but a bad player following the defeat of his Wolves, Edwards was very complimentary towards Gilgeous-Alexander at a press conference. Even to the point of designating him as the league MVPeven if it means snubbing Nikola Jokic. His remarks obviously did not take long to be reported to the main person concerned, who for his part was logically flattered by such a compliment:
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander : It’s a very nice feeling to hear that from him. With all due respect to you people who work in the media, there is nothing more satisfying than when your peers, the guys who do the same thing as you at a very high level for a living, respect and admire what you do and your talent. It’s something very flattering.
As a good gentleman, the OKC star leader also made sure to return the favor to his counterpart when thanking him indirectly:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander : When you hear that from a player of his caliber and whose potential has no limits, after a battle as tough as tonight’s, it’s really nice.
You will have understood, even if they are both called upon to face each other on numerous occasions in the coming years, Shai and Ant have no intention of maintaining any rivalry. At least not in the media, who prefer to publicly praise the qualities of others. Which undoubtedly displeases the former glories of the NBA, for whom such an agreement between superstars seemed unthinkable.
Named MVP by Anthony Edwards himself after their confrontation, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expressed his gratitude to his interlocutor. Fans of confusion between big names will once again have to hold back.
