Anthony Edwards congratulated the San Antonio Spurs bench during the final minutes of Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals [1].
The gesture is unusual because the game had not yet concluded, sparking debate among analysts and former players regarding sportsmanship and timing.
Edwards, a shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, approached the Spurs bench with eight minutes remaining on the clock [1]. The action occurred at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the home court for the Timberwolves [2]. At that point in the game, the Timberwolves were facing elimination from the playoffs [3].
Edwards said he decided to acknowledge the opposing team because the outcome of the series was effectively decided. He said that the Spurs were already celebrating their victory while his team continued to play [4].
“Yeah it’s 8 minutes but we not going back in the game,” Edwards said. “When you win a playoff series everybody is celebrating at the end of the game. They’ll be smiling while I’m pissed off. I was like ‘let me go ahead…’” [5].
The Spurs eventually won the series 4–2 to advance [6]. Edwards said the gesture was a sign of respect for the opposing team's performance during the semifinals.
“We’re out of the series, but I still wanted to give them love. They earned it,” Edwards said [7].
Not everyone viewed the mid-game interaction as standard practice. Dirk Nowitzki, a former star for the Spurs, commented on the rarity of the situation.
“Never seen this,” Nowitzki said [8].
““We’re out of the series, but I still wanted to give them love. They earned it,””
The incident highlights a tension between traditional sports etiquette, which dictates that congratulations occur after the final buzzer, and a modern, player-led approach to sportsmanship. By acknowledging the defeat before the game officially ended, Edwards signaled a psychological acceptance of the loss, which some veterans view as a breach of competitive norms while others see as a gesture of genuine respect.
