The Minnesota Timberwolves are already preparing for their second-round matchup against the defending champions after sweeping the Phoenix Suns in Round 1. Wolves superstar Anthony Edwards was mic’d up for Game 4 of the series as the microphones caught him being an excellent example of a classy and mature leader throughout the game.
He lightly and respectfully trash-talked Kevin Durant after a bucket for the Suns star.
“Won’t get that easy no more, K.”
He was instructing teammates such as Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Go get every rebound.”
When the team started getting into foul trouble, Edwards huddled up Rudy Gobert and the others and implored them to control their fouls.
“Come here Ru. We’ve got to stop fouling. Please stop fouling. The only way they can stay in the game is if they are on the line.”
Later on the bench, Edwards made sure his teammates know that he’s focused on winning.
“I’m here. Don’t ever worry about me being locked in. I’m here.”
Ant was mic'd up in Game 4 vs. the Suns 🗣️🔥 https://t.co/IEIcYAqblK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2024
Edwards put up 40 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in Game 4 of the contest, eliminating the Suns dominantly. He averaged 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists for the series, establishing his reputation as a playoff-riser.
Going head-to-head against the likes of Durant and Devin Booker while walking away as a winner in a sweep is an incredible achievement that should be valued.
A defining test is coming up for Edwards, if he can lead them to a series win over the Nuggets, he’ll likely ascend into superstardom. It would also make Minnesota title favorites, a thought nobody would have considered at the start of the season.
Anthony Edwards Is A Fierce Competitor
Very few players in the NBA right now can match the competitive streak that Edwards has. He showed how he thrives off competitive energy in the first-round series against the Suns, going back and forth with Kevin Durant.
He openly said that he wanted to ‘kill’ his opposition before Game 4 to earn the first playoff series win of his career.
“I just want to kill everything in front of me. That’s the main thing, pretty much. That’s all there is to it. I’ve never been here, so I don’t know how tough it is. I just come out here and play my game, and have my guys ready to win. I haven’t won a series yet, I’ve been sent home twice, so I’m thirsty to get it.”
Edwards also unleashed the most competitive side we’ve seen from him in his young career to get the better of Durant, a player he considers an idol.
“It’s my favorite player of all time. It’s the best feeling in the world to send him home or whatever you want to call it. I don’t even think I outplayed him, he played great throughout the whole series but my team outplayed his.”
This level of competitive fervor will do him well against the well-oiled Nuggets, who overcame a tougher test in the first round against the Lakers but made it look easy despite trailing for a third of the series. The winner of this series could likely represent the West in the NBA Finals, so this will be the defining series of Edwards’ career.
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