Anthony Edwards has made it to the Conference Finals for a second consecutive year, and this time, he will face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder have split the season series two years in a row. Now, their young stars will battle for a chance to represent the Western Conference in the Finals and maybe win a championship.
“I’m Better” Than Shai: Anthony Edwards Gets a Chance to Prove It
The interesting part about this matchup is that Ant blatantly said he was better than SGA a year ago. Asked by Stephen A. Smith that LeBron James mentioned him as the future of the league, Ant said,
“I think that’s dope. I think he is exactly right, me, and Shai, and Luka for sure. I feel like I am a better player 100%.”
Now, Anthony Edwards has a chance to prove his claim that he is better than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It is worth noting, though, that he also said he is better than Luka Doncic. This interview was in February 2024, when Ant made his second All-Star appearance. Yet, in the playoffs last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves fell to Luka and the Dallas Mavericks.
Is Anthony Edwards on the Same Path as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
One might say that Ant is not better than SGA right now, but we have to consider their age. Ant is 23 years old, three years younger than his rival. At his age, Shai didn’t even make it to the All-Star team. Ant already has two All-Star appearances, a second-team All-NBA, and maybe even a first-team this year.
If we look at their stats only, SGA has been much better this season. He averaged a league-leading 32.7 points to go along with five rebounds and 6.4 assists. Ant averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Who Has the Better Team?
There is no question that Shai has a better team around him. The Thunder have drafted and traded well over the years. In these playoffs alone, they have had ten players contributing in different games. The Timberwolves do not have as deep a team. And that makes this duel that much more fascinating. After winning 68 games, the Thunder are the favorites. But if Edwards can find a way to beat them, he can prove that he is a better player than Gilgeous-Alexander.
Is Legacy On the Line?
Both Ant and SGA have been among the best young players in the league. They are each knocking on the door of becoming the outright favorite. Gilgeous-Alexander is one step closer after he will almost surely win the regular season MVP award. Both players have something to prove in this matchup.
For Ant, after beating LeBron in Round 1, Steph Curry in Round 2, he gets a crack at another superstar. There might be more ramifications to this matchup. A few years from now, Ant and SGA will lead their respective countries on the Olympic basketball court. It is a rivalry that will continue for years to come.
For SGA, making the trip to the Finals will validate his MVP year even more. There are still a lot of people who think that Nikola Jokic has a legitimate claim to the MVP award. To be honest, this was as close to a race as you can get. These two are not playing against each other, they are defining the next generation of NBA stars.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The post “I’m Better” Than Shai: Anthony Edwards Gets a Chance to Prove It appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.