Anthony Edwards doesn’t shy away from much - and that includes the idea of locking down one of the most gifted ball-handlers the NBA has ever seen. The Timberwolves star recently stirred the pot with a bold claim: he’s confident he could guard Kyrie Irving one-on-one. No hesitation, no qualifiers - just straight-up belief in his ability.
“Oh for sure I can guard Kyrie,” Edwards said when asked about the hypothetical matchup. “In a 1-on-1 setting, I like me.”
That kind of swagger isn’t just talk - it’s a reflection of the edge that’s helped fuel Minnesota’s rise this season. The Timberwolves are sitting near the top of the Western Conference, and Edwards is a big reason why. His confidence is infectious, and it’s showing up in the win column.
Take their January 28 win over the Mavericks as a case in point. Dallas came in short-handed without Kyrie, but Minnesota didn’t let up, cruising to a 118-105 victory.
“Oh for sure I can guard Kyrie [Irving]… In a 1-on-1 setting, I like me”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 15, 2026
Anthony Edwards says that he could take on Kyrie Irving on a 1v1 👀
pic.twitter.com/nhOuY3ohd5
Even without the chance to go head-to-head with Irving, Edwards made sure his impact was felt. He put together a complete performance: 20 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 38 minutes.
It wasn’t a flashy scoring night, but it was the kind of all-around game that shows just how much he’s matured as a two-way force.
While Julius Randle stole the headlines with a 31-point outburst, Edwards was the engine - the guy who kept things humming on both ends of the floor. He defended, facilitated, and made winning plays that don’t always show up in the box score. That’s become the norm for Ant.
On the Mavericks' side, P.J. Washington did what he could, dropping 21 points to try and keep things competitive.
But without Irving and his gravity on the floor, Dallas lacked the firepower to keep pace. That absence was glaring - not just in the scoring column, but in how Minnesota’s defense was able to clamp down without having to account for Kyrie’s shot creation and off-the-dribble wizardry.
Historically, Irving has been a problem for the Timberwolves. In his last ten games against Minnesota, he’s averaged a scorching 31.6 points.
He’s the type of player who can bend a defense to his will, and few teams have had answers for him when he’s in rhythm. That’s what makes Edwards’ comments so intriguing - and so bold.
He’s not just saying he wants the challenge; he’s saying he’s ready for it.
Right now, Minnesota’s defense is one of the stingiest in the league, and Edwards has embraced that identity. At 34-22, the Wolves are proving they’re more than just a feel-good story - they’re a real contender. And Edwards, still just scratching the surface of his potential, is eager to test himself against the best.
We don’t know when we’ll get that one-on-one moment between Ant and Kyrie. But if and when it comes, don’t expect Edwards to back down. He’s already made his pick - and in his mind, it’s not even close.