Anthony Edwards turned a sneaker ad into a full-blown roast session.
In a new Adidas video tied to the release of the Cold Blooded Anthony Edwards 3, Edwards plays a late-night host on a mock show called Minnatlantasota, a nod to Minnesota and Atlanta. He describes the whole vibe with a simple mission statement: “we having fun, we making jokes and we winning it all.”
The two-minute spot never names names, but the punches land anyway. Edwards opens by going after James, who chose the 76ers this offseason after considering the Cavs, Heat and Timberwolves.
“Speaking of old school, did you see where big dog ended up? He was going to join me in Minnesota, but I guess his knees couldn’t handle the cold weather,” Edwards said.
“It’s cool though. We know why he made that decision.
Philly’s got some of the best barbers in the world.”
The joke isn’t random. According to The Athletic, James asked Edwards during free agency what would happen if he signed elsewhere. Edwards told him it would be O.K. because that would just give him a chance to “tear off James’s head on the court” when Minnesota and his new team meet this season.
Edwards kept the barbs coming, this time turning to Brown, James’s new teammate in Philly.
“Between [LeBron] and ol’ boy from Boston [Brown], they gonna have a whole lot of enhancements going on in the locker room,” Edwards said. “I’m just playing, y’all.”
Brown has already had his own hairline jokes follow him around. Last season, he went viral more than once after accidentally wiping his painted-on hairline onto an opponent’s jersey, including a moment involving Wizards forward Kyshawn George. Brown later joked on social media after that game, “AI is getting outta hand,”
Edwards also took a playful shot at Ball, his new teammate after the Wolves acquired him from the Hornets in July.
“I’m excited about my new road dog,” Edwards said of Ball. “They brought my twin to the Twin Cities.
We’ve been working out together and doing lots of things. But one thing we ain’t doing if we’re together is carpooling if he driving.
I ain’t riding with him, y’all.”
Ball has been involved in several car crashes over the years, including one last February in Charlotte during the All-Star break.
There was also a nod to Towns, Edwards’s former teammate and good friend, who helped the Knicks win their first championship in 53 years back in June.
“Shoutout to my boy for winning the chip though,” Edwards said. “I ain’t gon’ lie. I’ma be there soon, y’all, just wait on it.”
Later, Edwards aimed another jab at the NBA Finals MVP while hyping the shoes.
“If you on the court against me, anybody could get it. Even your daddy. I don’t care if he your assistant coach.”
Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, has been an assistant coach on the Knicks’ staff since 2022.
Edwards then finished with one more pointed line, staring straight into the camera.
“When I lace these up, it’s over for all y’all. Especially you-know-who.”
The ad never identifies that final target, but the possibilities are obvious enough. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one name that fits, given the back-and-forth those two have had on the floor.
Nikola Jokić is another, with the Nuggets and Timberwolves meeting in the playoffs three of the last four years. Victor Wembanyama is also in the mix after the Spurs knocked Minnesota out in a tight second-round series that came with plenty of trash talk.
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