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Compilation Of Anthony Edwards Mic'd Up In Game 7 Against The Nuggets
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Edwards has long been considered among the most charismatic personalities in the NBA. His charisma is finally matching his performance, with Edwards rising up as a legitimate contender as the future face of the NBA. His compelling personality was on full display as he was mic'd up during the Wolves Game 7 win over the Nuggets.

Edwards and Jamal Murray shared an exchange on the court where Edwards told Murray to stop trapping him. There were also clips of Edwards directing traffic and telling different players to get to their spots, showing his command over the court. He was cracking jokes and amping himself up despite a challenging offensive night.

Edwards put up just 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in Game 7, struggling from the field in a 6-24 showing. His second-half performance was game-changing, as he was an active defender and scored 12 points over the period to help the Wolves dent the Nuggets' 20-point lead. 

His late-game defense on Jamal Murray ensured the Nuggets couldn't crawl their way back in, ending their season in the second round.

Edwards is averaging 28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists this postseason, headed into a Conference Finals matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The young swingman will be salivating at the opportunity to make his first NBA Finals at the age of 22 years, with the Wolves being favored to beat the Mavericks according to various experts, including Fadeaway World.

Mavericks Wary Of Anthony Edwards Dominance Ahead Of Matchup

Anthony Edwards will be the focus of the Mavericks' defense, as the 22-year-old superstar can unravel defenses on the basis of his performances alone. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is aware of that, giving a glowing review of Edwards ahead of this Conference Finals clash.

“When you look at Ant, just his ability, you know, one, to command leadership at 22. That's pretty special. His talent and his smile are infectious. You just look at it, he has all the qualities… He is a star in this league. Again, his teammates trust him and they should. He's one of the best players in the world. He is built to be a leader in this league and he's showing that here in the playoffs.”

This series will put the two best defenses of the 2024 Playoffs against each other.

Nobody would have blinked an eye at the Wolves being in this conversation, the Mavericks have drastically improved their defense throughout the 2023-24 season. They were the No. 1 defense in the NBA for the last 20 games, and that excellence carried over in series against the Clippers and Thunder, two offensively potent teams. 

Minnesota's defense fried Denver's offense, one of the best in the NBA all season, so the Mavericks will face a proper challenge to score. But the presence of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving provides the challenge of two unique scoring threats the Wolves will have to gameplan against.

The Mavericks should be the underdogs given the Wolves' recent elimination of the Nuggets and consistent excellence this season, but this series is going to be impossible to predict until it plays out.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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