The Minnesota Timberwolves defied expectations by eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs—led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic—in just five games. The defining factor of the series was the outstanding, consistent performance of Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.
After Game 5, Edwards addressed the media and delivered a respectful yet powerful statement about what the victory meant to him personally. “We beat the best player in the world, the best player ever,” Edwards said, referring to James. His comment reflected both admiration and satisfaction, acknowledging the magnitude of eliminating an all-time great.
Edwards praised LeBron’s longevity and elite conditioning, noting the significance of outperforming a player who, even at age 40, remains a physical force and statistical contributor at the highest level.
James delivered a strong individual performance in Game 5 of the NBA playoffs, finishing with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. But his efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Timberwolves’ cohesive execution on both ends of the court.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs
Is this the end for LeBron James?
At 40 years old and after 22 consecutive NBA seasons, the end of LeBron James’ career may be drawing near. And following the loss to Minnesota, the four-time champion admitted he’s unsure what comes next.
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JJ Redick gets frustrated with reporter after Lakers’ loss to Timberwolves
“I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that,” James said in his postgame press conference, per Lakers reporter Mike Trudell. “I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. We’ll see.”
When pressed about how he’ll approach the decision, James added: “I’ll sit down with my wife, family, and support group… have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. We’ll see.”
Redick shows frustration after series loss
Lakers head coach JJ Redick also addressed the media after the Game 5 defeat—and didn’t hide his frustration when questioned about his in-game decision-making. One reporter asked whether Redick might consider relying more on his assistant coaches for late-game substitutions moving forward.
“Are you saying that because I’m inexperienced and that was an inexperienced decision I made?” Redick responded sharply. “You think I don’t talk to my assistants about substitutions every single timeout? That’s a weird assumption.”
