Anthony Edwards' Rush and the New Generation of the NBA

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Wolves swept the Suns in the first round of the playoffs, 4-0. Edwards also got rid of Durant, the Suns forward, who was his childhood idol. When Durant first entered the NBA, in the 2007 draft, Edwards was just five years old. In fact, he doesn't even know basketball basketball.

However, the player nicknamed "Ant Man" is not at all reluctant to face Durant, who is 35 years old. Over the course of four games, Edwards was always able to outshine the players who were included in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He averaged 31 points, 8 rebounds and 6.3 assists versus the Suns.

Edwards' star aura radiated even more after the match. He prepared something for his senior when they met again at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both were selected for the United States national team. ”I really respect KD (Durant). It will be a pleasure to play with him next summer. However, I will mock him, I have sent him home (in the playoffs)," he said with a smile.

We see him build, evolve as a leader and a man.

The character of Edwards, who is confident, somewhat arrogant, and ambitious, is reminiscent of NBA legends such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Their words are as high as the sky, but they have been proven with greatness on the field. They are not afraid of the spotlight because they are very confident in their own abilities.

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Wise people say, words are an investment in the future. Edwards has always believed that he would be the face of the NBA since being selected by Wolves at number one in the 2020 draft. Before the playoffs started, in early April, he also said that in an interview with ESPN. "In two years (he will be the greatest player in the NBA)," he said.

A new star will be widely recognized by the public when they can have an impact on the team's victory. Edwards was once doubted as being able to become such a figure because he was not consistent in his first three seasons. After being selected in the draft, he even admitted that he was not too interested in basketball. However, he turned all those predictions around this season with a historic record with the Wolves.

Wolves won a playoff match for the first time since 2004 when legendary player Kevin Garnett was still around. The two decade wait is over. Meanwhile, it took Garnett eight seasons to take the Wolves to the regional semifinals when Edwards did it in his fourth season.

In the fourth game, Edwards went "crazy" in the last two quarters with a contribution of 31 points after only scoring 9 points during the half. The majority of the points came from one-on-one duels. The Suns with the best offensive trio in the league, Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, were outclassed. ”We saw him build, evolve as a leader and a man,” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said.

Kevin Durant's confession

Apart from his megastar personality and impact on victory, the 1.93 meter tall player is also admired for his phenomenal actions. He has an above average physical advantage that supports him in creating explosive movements. One of the most special things about it is the dunk action.

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Edwards caused shock at the Footprint Center when Wolves only led by two points with just over two minutes left. He passed Beal at the three-point line, then penetrated deep. After that, he seemed to fly to reach the Suns basket. Edwards threw an explosive dunk right in front of Durant's face.

The best gift for Edwards in the match yesterday was not a victory, but direct recognition from Durant. "I'm amazed by Ant. He's my favorite player to watch. His love for this game shines brightly. He takes advantage of every opportunity he gets. I will continue to follow him throughout his career," praised Durant, who has won the NBA championship twice.

The narrative of a generational shift was further strengthened by Curry's failure with the Golden State Warriors in the play-in. The Warriors were defeated by the Sacramento Kings led by 26 year old guard De'Aaron Fox. Interestingly, the Kings also did not qualify for the playoffs because they were defeated by the New Orleans Pelicans in the final play-in match.

The Pelicans are currently trailing 0-3 to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The Thunder are led by a 25-year-old star from Canada, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is one of the strongest candidates to win Most Valuable Playerthis season. Thanks to him, the Thunder were able to top the Western Conference.

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On the other hand, "The King" James, who is 39 years old, will most likely have to miss out on the playoffs again. The Los Angeles Lakers are already 0-3 behind the defending champion Denver Nuggets. The player who has been to the final 10 times will very likely not reach the final again for four consecutive seasons.

As a result, this season further clarifies that the old generation, represented by Curry, James, and Durant, is nearing its end. A new era, fresher and more diverse, is already waiting. Young players like Edwards are ready to continue the baton pass. (AP/AFP)