Anthony Edwards Recalls Pre-Draft Workout with Steve Kerr that Motivated Him to Become a Star
In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards revealed a pre-draft workout with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr that served as a turning point in his NBA career. The encounter, which took place in 2020, was a pivotal moment in Edwards’ development as a player and helped him to become the superstar he is today.
According to Edwards, Kerr was less than impressed with his workout, telling him that if the Warriors had the first overall pick, they wouldn’t select him. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Edwards described the workout, saying: "Before he came, I thought I was like, working hard. And, like, when he came, I was going through the drills. And he kept stopping them, like, ‘That’s all you’ve got? That’s all you’ve got?’" Edwards continued: "I’m like, ‘Bruh, I’m going hard as you want me to go. What you want me to do?’ I’m sweating crazy. He’s like, ‘You’ve got to see Steph and KD and Klay work out.’"
The encounter didn’t end there. Edwards revealed that he went out to dinner with Kerr and then-Warriors general manager Bob Myers, where they told him that he didn’t work hard enough and that they wouldn’t draft him if they had the first overall pick. As quoted by Yahoo Sports, Edwards said: "They still was continuously telling me that ‘you didn’t work hard enough,’. ‘If we had the No. 1 pick, we wouldn’t take you.’"
The conversation served as a wake-up call for Edwards, who used Kerr’s words as motivation to step up his game. In his own words, Edwards became a "mad man in the gym," working tirelessly to improve his skills. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Edwards said: "Me and my trainer are driving home after dinner, and we’re just talking like, ‘We’ve got to pick it up.’ I don’t know how. I don’t know what we’ve got to do. But we’ve got to pick it up. After that, man, I became a mad man in the gym. I try to work til I’m tired, I’m exhausted."
Kerr, speaking to Yahoo Sports from his hotel room, recalled his version of the story, saying: "It’s a funny story. I didn’t think much of it at the time. I didn’t think I was doing anything special. … I think it was [Warriors owner] Joe Lacob, Bob Myers and me. And then Ant goes out to work out with his trainer. We’re the only five people in the gym." Kerr continued: "After 15 minutes of just watching him lazily shoot 15 footers, I thought, when’s the workout gonna start? And it turns out that was the workout. And I just went down there and I said, ‘Hey, can we see something more?’ And I think they were kind of surprised."
Kerr also shared his side of the story about the dinner conversation, saying: "And then we had dinner that night. Bob and I both talked about Steph and Kevin Durant and Klay and how hard they work, what it takes to be great. He was genuinely captivated by it, hearing stories about those guys." Kerr noted that a follow-up workout with Edwards two weeks later was "way better," and that the team was convinced of his potential.
The encounter between Edwards and Kerr took place in 2020, when Edwards was a prospect for the NBA draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves ultimately selected him with the first overall pick, while the Warriors chose James Wiseman with the second pick. Today, Edwards is considered one of the top players in the league, and Kerr has spoken highly of him as a person and a player. As the Timberwolves and Warriors prepare to face off in the Western Conference semifinals, Kerr will have to game-plan against Edwards, who is now a superstar in the league.
The story of Edwards’ pre-draft workout with Kerr serves as a testament to the Minnesota Timberwolves guard’s hard work and dedication to his craft. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Edwards’ transformation from a talented prospect to a dominant force in the league is a direct result of his response to Kerr’s criticism. With his team on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference finals, Edwards will look to continue to prove himself as one of the best players in the league.
In conclusion, Anthony Edwards’ pre-draft workout with Steve Kerr was a pivotal moment in his NBA career. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Edwards used Kerr’s criticism as motivation to improve his game, and the rest is history. As the Timberwolves and Warriors prepare to face off in the Western Conference semifinals, fans can expect to see a thrilling series between two of the top teams in the league.
