The Minnesota Timberwolves not only eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs — they embarrassed them.
Anthony Edwards and the rest of the Wolves clipped the Lakers in five games after entering the series as underdogs.
On Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith was asked whether the NBA is now Anthony Edwards’ league.
It’s not Ant Edwards’ league until he wins the West. He doesn’t even necessarily have to win the championship but he’s got to win the West. … The brother is box office. The more you see him, the more you want to see him.
Stephen A. was pressed about his answer and the fact that he said it wouldn’t revolve around Edwards getting a championship this year.
If you come out of the West, a West that includes LeBron (James) and Steph (Stephen Curry) and SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and (Nikola) Jokic and you’re the guy to come out of the West? … Yes we’ve got to look at it differently then.
To an outsider, it might seem crazy to suggest the league goes through a player who hasn’t won a title. When diving into it deeper, in the last two years, Edwards has spearheaded a team that has eliminated Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic from the playoffs. Getting there this year could, as Stephen A. noted, require getting through Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and SGA immediately after eliminating LeBron and Luka Doncic.
Minnesota was a 3-seed last year, making it to the Western Conference Finals. This year, the Wolves are the 6-seed, moving on to the second round. They weren’t the heavy favorite last year, and Oklahoma City is the overwhelming favorite at -200 to come out of the West.
If Edwards can lead the charge and get the Wolves to the finals this year, he absolutely belongs in the conversation about who the league runs through at an individual level.