"Took it as a sign of respect, and then kicked his ass" - Lou Williams on how Kyrie Irving responded to Anthony Edwards' challenge

Heading into the 2024 Western Conference Finals, one of the biggest storylines centered on how Kyrie Irving would fare against Anthony Edwards , who boldly declared his happy to face the seasoned 6'2" guard after leading his team past the Denver Nuggets.

However, in the series-opener, the 8-time All-Star didn't take long to show why he's one of the best one-on-one players in the league. Kai droped 30 points on 52% shooting from the field to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a hard-fought 108-105 win on the road.

Post-game, Irving applauded Ant-Man's competitive fire and fearlessness. However, Lou Williams saw more in those comments than normal ears could contemplate, highlighting how Irving silenced the 22-year-old for having a big mouth.

"Yeah, he said it was a sign of respect. He also praised Ant-Man for his mindset," Williams said . "Kai took it as a sign of respect and then kicked his a**. That's how that interaction went."

Irving humbled Edwards

Throughout the 2024 playoffs, Ant-Man has backed up his words with actions, whether facing off against Kevin Durant in the first round or Jamal Murray in the second round. The two-time All-Star consistently brought his A-game to the court, elevating the Wolves' overall performance on both ends.

Considering that pattern, it was evident that Edwards thrived on intense competition, always striving to raise the stakes. However, Irving presented the toughest challenge yet for Edwards during these playoffs.

Apart from dropping 30 points in Game 1 on Wednesday night, Williams' statement about Irving' kicking Edwards' a**' rings true, especially when observing the latter's exhausted state in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Having to chase Kyrie all around the floor, the Georgia product appeared to have struggled to keep up with him on the majority of possessions he was guarding the one-time champion.

Although the 2012 ROY never seeks to discourage the enthusiasm of younger players, he did humbly impart wisdom to the Georgia native on controlling his emotions more effectively.

Ant-Man gets reminded who he is up against

Lou wasn't alone in his assessment; Kenyon Martin also chimed in after Game 1, reminding Ant that he wasn't facing Jamal Murray anymore but Kyrie Irving . The 46-year-old cautioned that if Irving was provoked, he would make Ant' touch earth' on the hardwood.

Though Edwards is undoubtedly a fierce competitor, this series might serve as a lesson that not all adversaries are swayed by verbal exchange. With Kyrie presenting a different challenge, the Minnesota guard may find greater success if his actions speak louder than his words.

That being said, Game 2 will indicate if the Timberwolves shooting guard has taken this teaching to his heart or not.

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