Anthony Edwards looks for a basketball hoop around 20 feet distant while gripping the seams of a football in his right hand. He uncorks an effortless spiral that soars toward the rim with a quick step forward on his left foot; he knows it is going in as soon as he lets go.
He shouts, "I do not just be talking," right before the ball hits the net. "I am not just talking like a motherf---ing."
As he bounces a basketball up to where Edwards made his shot, Justin Jefferson chuckles. Jefferson, dressed in black sweatpants and a black No. 5 Timberwolves jersey, takes a couple high dribbles to gather himself. In the background, Edwards is trash-talking. "Damn, I got to make it," he adds. Around them, scores of people are taking pictures and movies with their phones and cameras while music is blaring. However, Edwards and Jefferson are restrained.
In a huge Minneapolis warehouse and studio, the two celebrities are playing PIG against one another. It is late August, more than a month before the NBA season starts and a week before the NFL season starts. In order to recreate the image that Minnesota sports fans and others have been longing to see, they are here for an interview and photo session.After Randy Moss proposed the trade, Kevin Garnett and Moss wore each other's jerseys to a Sport magazine photo shoot in 2000. Even today's younger generations can relate to the image. Two young Black showmen with extraordinary flair and personality have once again taken over the Minnesota sports scene. To symbolize their own legacies in the Twin Cities, they wish to pay tribute to the past while establishing a fresh image.
Edwards is winning the game while sporting a purple No. 18 Vikings jersey that is too short for his torso and a pair of black Wolves basketball shorts. Jefferson now moves into a jump shot while posing for the follow-through with his right arm outstretched in the air. Jefferson's head whips toward Edwards as the ball goes through the net. Yes, indeed. "Yeaaah," Jefferson replies, smiling and nodding as the two briefly meet in person, leaving Edwards stunned.
There are obviously more than just two friends playing PIG in this situation. The goal is to prove something to one another. The NFL's Vikings selected Jefferson at No. 22 and the NBA's Wolves selected Edwards first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Both Edwards and Jefferson attended college and grew up in the South. Other than the fact that it gets chilly, neither of them knew much about Minneapolis. Before his draft, Edwards would listen to Lil Yachty's "Minnesota" with his pals, saying, "Because it gets cold like Minnesota." Minnesota-cold.
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When Jefferson says, "I just want to deliver a championship to Minnesota," "This place has too lovely folks. The following is excessively strong. It has taken a while to happen.
Edwards states, "I want to be here for my whole career if I can."
"Going nowhere is not my goal."
In terms of scorekeeping, Edwards wins the match. However, they have long since ceased monitoring the regulations.
Due to his preoccupation with exacting revenge, Edwards is tardy in arriving at the shoot. When his manager made fun of him for losing to 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton in Madden NFL 25, Edwards could not take it anymore.
Edwards' longtime trainer and business manager, Justin Holland, stated, "If he ever loses [at anything], he is going to make sure that he practices and practices and practices until he is ready to play you again." "And it is unlikely that you will prevail."
Madden is a major matter to Edwards. He is so intense that even his most ardent gaming pals and teammates, who spoke to ESPN for this story, avoid playing against him. Thus, just before the shoot, Edwards made an online challenge to Newton. Edwards prevailed 36–5. When he finally makes it to the warehouse, he daps Jefferson in the changing area.
During our interview, Edwards takes a sofa chair across the table from me, and Jefferson sits on a brown leather two-seater couch. A 24-by-24 picture of Garnett and Moss from Sport magazine sits on a stand next to them. Later in the day, when they make their own, they will refer to it.
Both Edwards and Jefferson participated in the other's sport as children, just like Garnett and Moss. Growing up, Jefferson played hoops in the backyard with his two elder brothers after learning the game from his father. Edwards played all around the field when he initially fell in love with football. Edwards did not feel he should start concentrating on hoops to outdo his brother until the latter became proficient at the sport.
Edwards does not think twice when I ask him if he could have joined the NFL. "Yes, fashion."What stopped him?
"I got hurt," says Edwards.
Edwards missed the upcoming basketball season in eighth grade because he injured his ankle near the end of the football season. Then it was time to permanently hang up the cleats.
Jefferson laughs and extends his 6-foot-1 frame on the couch, saying, "He got huuuuuuurt."
If he had persisted, Edwards thinks he may have become a professional football player. According to Edwards, he is still capable of playing in the NFL.
Edwards pauses to highlight the impending opportunity. "If I win a ring in the next three to four years," he continues.
Jefferson answers, "You are not going to football," and shakes his head.
Edwards goes on, "I am going to play football,"
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"No, you are not," responds Jefferson.
And the fact that he believes I am incapable of playing football will be one of the reasons for this. I will join you for a game."
"Look, he is going to get hit once..."
However, I will be [doing the hitting]. Strong safety is what I am going to play.
According to Edwards, he would aspire to be like Kam Chancellor, the four-time Pro Bowl player who helped the Seattle Seahawks win the 2014 Super Bowl. His teammates and buddies always hear this.
Center Naz Reid of the Wolves informed me, "He said the same thing to me," while shaking his head. "He claimed to be able to play tennis."
Wolves guard Mike Conley rolled his eyes and remarked, "I have heard he can play in the NFL, MLB, NHL."
Edwards' boyhood friend Nick Maddox stated, "If it was quarterback, he thinks he will be the right-handed Michael Vick." "He would bring up 'Megatron' Calvin Johnson or Julio Jones if he had intended to be a receiver. You know he is going to say Deion [Sanders], cornerback.
"Devin Hester, punt returner," Maddox added. "He is going to say, Adrian Peterson, you say running back."
At six feet four and 225 pounds, Edwards claims that if he lifted weights and trained like a football player, he would be considerably larger. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Smart, Luguentz Dort, and Jalen Suggs are among the other NBA players he thinks may make the switch.
"You all got some athletic guys," offers Jefferson, then pauses. You will be hit when you put on the helmet and shoulder pads, though, and you will say, 'Oh no. I am not interested in this—let us get back to basketball."
Edwards exclaims, "You all can not come play basketball though,"
Although he attempts to limit his play to shooting to prevent injury, Jefferson uses pickup basketball as a cardio exercise during the offseason. A highlight film of Jefferson from 2021 went viral, demonstrating his continued ability to get over the rim. He claims that although he has never received the advanced training necessary to improve his handle and basketball skills, he believes he could play professionally with the right instruction.
As he holds out his palms, Jefferson states, "I am not saying I am gon' be the best player in the league." "But I will make it somewhere."
Edwards will not tolerate it.
"Based only on my athletic prowess, I am going to score at least..." Jefferson gets things started.
"Not in the NBA," Edwards interrupts.
"You are nuts. Do not you think I will succeed?" Jefferson says.
Edwards says, "Oh, you will be somewhere..." They both chuckle.