Video: Jayson Tatum Says He and Anthony Edwards Talked ‘A Lot of S–t’ During Summer

Zach BacharContributor INovember 25, 2024

Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum revealed that he engaged in some trash talk with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards when they were members of Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“We were talking a lot of s–t with each other during the summer,” Tatum told reporters after Boston’s 107-105 win over Minnesota on Sunday.

Justin Turpin @JustinmTurpinJayson Tatum on Anthony Edwards’ comments in Starting 5:

“We were talking a lot of shit with eachother during the summer… I’ve got a pretty good record against Minnesota in my career… It’s fun. They are a really good team.”

After today, Tatum is 12-1 against the Timberwolves. pic.twitter.com/9SIXkA8tV0

Edwards previously gave his thoughts on Tatum being potentially looked at as the best player in the NBA during Neflix’s Starting 5 documentary series.

“Talking ’bout best player in the league, y’all trippin,” Edwards said (h/t SI.com’s Tim Capurso).

There doesn’t appear to be any legitimate animosity between the two, though.

“I love Ant,” Tatum said on Sunday. “He’s a hell of a player, hell of a competitor. He talks a lot. He had a lot to say this Summer about the game we played against them last year.”

Justin Turpin @JustinmTurpinJayson Tatum on Anthony Edwards:

“I love Ant. He’s a hell of a player, hell of a competitor. He talks a lot. He had a lot to say this Summer about the game we played last year… You enjoy playing against the other best players in the league. It’s always fun and competitive.” pic.twitter.com/qpDO1cFxO7

Edwards’ comments on the docuseries occurred after a 114-109 victory against the Celtics during the 2023-24 season, but Tatum has the upper hand in the one-on-one rivalry.

In the eight games between Boston and Minnesota that the two players have appeared in, the Celtics own a 7-1 record.

Both stars showed up on Sunday. Tatum finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 38 minutes on the floor. He shot 8-21 from the field and connected on five of his 12 attempts from three-point territory.

Edwards flirted with a triple-double, scoring a team-high 28 points while pulling down nine rebounds and recording seven assists. The two-time All-Star shot 42.9 percent from the field and hit six three-pointers.

The Timberwolves trailed by two points and had a chance to tie the game with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but a three-point attempt by Naz Reid occurred after the final buzzer and resulted in a win for Boston.

Both players were on the United States men’s basketball roster during the Olympics, helping the U.S. squad secure a fifth consecutive gold medal in the event. Edwards averaged 12.8 points in 16.3 minutes each night during the Paris Games.

Tatum recorded 5.3 points per game as he transitioned in and out of head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation.

The Timberwolves and Celtics will face off again on Jan. 2.