Minnesota Timberwolves" Anthony Edwards has become the talk of the town after a jaw-dropping game-saving block against the Indiana Pacers.
While fans and analysts laud it as one of the NBA"s best defensive plays this season, Fox Sports analyst Skip Bayless has weighed in, calling it overrated and comparing it to “killing a gnat with a sledgehammer."
The remarkable block by Edwards has quickly gone viral, with many considering it a potential contender for the NBA"s “block of the season." However, Bayless, known for his outspoken and controversial takes, didn"t hold back during Friday"s episode of Fox Sports" Undisputed.
Skip Bayless calls Anthony Edwards’ game-winning block overrated
"easiest block you'll ever see."
(h/t @awfulannouncing )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 8, 2024
“This was killing a gnat with a sledgehammer," Bayless expressed, questioning the level of difficulty of Edwards" block. He argued that Jaden McDaniels, another Timberwolves forward, was in a prime position to make an easy block and could have easily intercepted the shot.
According to Bayless, McDaniels was well-positioned in the play, and Edwards" leap over his teammate only served to make the block seem more dramatic than it was. He criticized the scoring, stating, “You gave this a 10? It"s the easiest block ever. What was Aaron Nesmith doing? Just try to dunk it. Go up hard, go hard."
Bayless continued his critique, emphasizing that McDaniels had the situation under control, and someone from the opposing team would have likely intercepted the shot, given the crowded defensive setup. “Jaden McDaniels is going to block that easily," Bayless asserted.
While replays confirm that McDaniels was indeed in position, Bayless acknowledged the exceptional height Edwards achieved during the block, noting that the young star hit his head on the rim. Edwards himself admitted post-game that he had never jumped that high before and acknowledged the physical toll the move took on him.
Despite the disagreement over the level of difficulty and Bayless" dismissal of the block as overrated, the consensus remains that Anthony Edwards" game-saving play showcased his competitive fire and contributed to the Timberwolves" victory.
