Ant Loves His Very Short Teammate, Jordan McLaughlin

It may have been the longest game in NBA history, but that won’t matter in hindsight. Because the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled out a massive 119-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies early on Sunday morning, tying their first round playoff series, 2-2. Karl-Anthony Towns had a huge game, posting 33 points and 13 rebounds, hitting big shot, after big shot late, to help seal a victory.

But he wasn’t the only guy who had a big night. Jordan McLaughlin, who didn’t play at all in game three, was lights out through the final three quarters. When the dust settled, he finished 5/6 from the field and 4/4 from deep, contributing an extremely clutch 16 points, all of which the Minnesota Timberwolves needed.

Anthony Edwards on McLaughlin

After the victory, Anthony Edwards and Jordan McLaughlin took the press conference podium together. Ant had another big performance of his own, putting up 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 50% shooting from both inside and outside the 3PT line. But he didn’t want to talk about his game. Edwards was only interested in discussing the career night by his REALLY short teammate, Jordan McLaughlin, who stands 5’11”, 185 pounds.

You’ll rarely hear a negative word fall out of Anthony Edwards’ mouth and Sunday’s early morning appearance was no different. Of course, the references to JMac’s height came with Ant’s patented playful love. He spoke with sarcastic amazement at how McLaughlin somehow finds a way to be so effective when he’s so small.

In between height references, Edwards called Jordan McLaughlin the greatest teammate he’s ever played with, right next to Josh Okogie. He also nodded along as JMac told reporters how he stays ready in between appearances, which can come few and far-between, at times. Ant even claims to have grinded McLaughlin’s college tape from back when he was at USC (2014-18). Here are a few of the highlights. The full 7-minute must-see press conference video is below them.

Anthony Edwards on Jordan McLaughlin (while sitting next to Jordan McLaughlin):

"He just so short man, you know? It’s just impressive. Look how small he is. He don’t let it bother him."

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 24, 2022

Anthony Edwards said you could watch back Jordan McLaughlin's college film and see this is the stuff he could do

I asked if he's grinded USC film.

Ant: "Yeah. Yep, yep, yep, I have."

What impressed him the most from that?

Ant: "He's just so short."

— jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) April 24, 2022

Anthony Edwards: "Jordan McLaughlin and Josh Okogie are the best teammates I've ever played with in my life… I can't compare anybody to those two."

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 24, 2022

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan