Anthony Edwards gives Georgia shoutout after 40-point performance, sweep of Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Perhaps no player in the NBA has developed as much hype during the first round of the playoffs as former Georgia basketball star Anthony Edwards.

The 22-year-old guard sparked comparisons again to legend Michael Jordan as he scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half of a 122-116 win for the Minnesota Timberwolves to finish off a sweep of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Edwards' performance helped Minnesota pass the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and it was the first sweep of a seven-game series round for any Minnesota sports team.

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Following the game, Edwards chatted with the TNT postgame crew: Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson. Johnson, who is a 1978 University of Georgia graduate, made sure to remind viewers of where Edwards played his college ball.

"Remind me again where you went to school. Was it up there in Athens, Georgia, where I went to school?" Johnson asked Edwards.

"Yeah, UGA, you know what's up," Edwards replied.

Anthony Edwards at Georgia basketball

Edwards signed with the Bulldogs out of Holy Spirit Prep School in Atlanta as the No. 1 overall player in the 2019 class by 247Sports.com. In his lone season with Georgia, Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, leading UGA to a 16-16 record. His 19.1 points per game led all freshmen in the nation.

Following the season, he entered the NBA Draft and became the No. 1 overall pick, the first-ever Georgia player to go first overall. Edwards averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his four NBA seasons, including this season. He helped the Timberwolves tie for the best record in the Western Conference, but the team finished as a 3-seed due to tiebreakers. The Wolves will playing the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets series, with the Nuggets leading 3-1 heading into Monday's Game 5.

Watch Anthony Edwards' highlight reel dunk, block

As is the norm, the former University of Georgia standout made a couple of highlight reel plays: A block of Booker and a ferocious dunk over Bradley Beal in traffic.

The block was first with 4:35 left in the game, Booker drove hard to the hoop and seemed to have an easy layup. Edwards jumped in from the perimeter and met Booker at the summit to block his shot and send the ball out of bounds with Minnesota holding a 107-103 lead.

A couple of minutes later, Edwards left another stamp on the game, driving to the left past Beal and with Durant moving out of the way near the rim. Beal seemingly grazed his head for a furious slam, but that did not stop the man nicknamed, "Ant."

Anthony Edwards scores 40 points to help Minnesota Timberwolves sweep Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Edwards finished with 40 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks. He had just nine points in the first half but turned it on with a great performance in the second half, helping the Wolves overcome Booker's 49-point performance.

Throughout the series, Edwards and Durant, who is considered one of the best players in NBA history, were caught having fun and trash talking one another. Edwards displayed admiration for Durant following the game. Durant and Edwards will compete together on Team USA this summer.

"I got the utmost respect for KD, man," Edwards said of Durant. "He comes in and competes every night. I watched every last one of his games since I was about 5. I love that guy. I am excited to play with him this summer, talk a little trash and let him know I sent him home."

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Anthony Edwards gives Georgia shoutout after 40-point performance in NBA Playoffs