The Los Angeles Lakers were officially eliminated from the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs following a 103–96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their first-round series. Led by the consistently outstanding performance of Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves advanced past a Lakers squad featuring LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Following the final buzzer, LeBron James approached Edwards at center court and shared a brief but impactful message for the remainder of the playoffs: “Make that next step now. Come on.”
The moment, though short, carried weight. Was James encouraging Edwards to embrace his destiny as the next face of the NBA? Was he challenging the 22-year-old to win a title and cement his legacy? Either way, the message was clear—James sees something special in the Timberwolves star.
In Game 5, Edwards finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals—just shy of a triple-double. His stat line underscored his two-way impact and maturity on the court.
Edwards responds to critics with humor and dominance
Throughout the series, Edwards consistently delivered. His Game 4 performance—where he dropped 43 points—was pivotal in giving Minnesota a 3–1 series lead. And he didn’t shy away from addressing the doubters afterward.
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“What makes it feel even better is that they said ‘Lakers in 5,’ and the Wolves won in 5,” Edwards told reporters postgame. “I think that makes it feel 10 times better.”
Videos later went viral of Edwards playfully mocking those predictions with rhyming wordplay: “Ant-Man, Batman, Superman… Lakers in 5.” He also referenced how the narrative shifted as the series progressed: “Then when we were up 3–1, they said ‘Lakers in 7.’” Clearly tuned into the media noise, Edwards turned the chatter into motivation—and backed it up on the floor.
Edwards praises LeBron after series win
Despite the friendly jabs at Lakers fans and pundits, Edwards reserved sincere respect for LeBron James in his postgame remarks. “We beat the best player in the world. The best player ever,” he said, acknowledging the magnitude of eliminating a legend like James, who, even at age 40, continues to produce at a high level.
LeBron finished Game 5 with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals—another well-rounded effort, albeit not enough to stave off elimination. As questions now swirl about his NBA future, one thing is certain: Edwards made a statement—not just with his words, but with his game.
