Leaked Trash-Talk Between Zion Williamson And Anthony Edwards Is Exactly What The NBA Needs

Anthony Edwards is a player known for embracing the trash-talking element of the NBA. He is one of the few players in the league who has the gift of gab to talk with the best of the best, and his natural charisma makes it an incredibly entertaining experience for fans at home.

As for Zion Williamson, he might have been a disappointment so far, not living up to expectations, but he is still one of the most exciting prospects in the NBA. And to see him show off not just his incredible physical prowess, but also his toughness and ability to stand on business against opposing players makes for great television.

The two didn't just jaw-jack during the game but also brought the fire in their play. Edwards continued his strong season by putting up 32 points (10-21 FG), nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Zion Williamson returned from injury in strong fashion, delivering 22 points (9-15 FG), six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block.

Zion even decided to show off his athleticism with a ferocious dunk against the Timberwolves.

The exchange between the two was a highlight of the night, and really showed just what the NBA is missing. There has been a great deal of talk surrounding the NBA's decline in viewership and fan interest. And one of the reasons given for the lack of fan interest is the missing intensity and fire between players, and them being friendly with each other.

Seeing two of the biggest names in the NBA go at it against each other added an edge to the game, and provided stakes outside of the confines of the regular season. Fans clamor not just for great athleticism and skills, but also for personalities and storylines. So to witness this intense exchange tonight was a treat.

Anthony Edwards' Frustration Is Visible

Over the last month or so, the Timberwolves have really struggled. While they've had a 10-7 record since the beginning of December, they have lost some games that they had no business losing. And Edwards has been extremely critical of his teammates, and himself during this stretch.

Ant called out the Timberwolves late last November for being soft and playing like kids. He went off on the team once again, for their poor performance against the Knicks last month. Most recently, he ranted about facing too many double-teams during games, and how that makes playing good basketball very difficult.

There is some truth to that. Charles Barkley recently claimed that Anthony Edwards has regressed as a player. And after looking at the numbers, like we did, it shows that he is taking way too many three-pointers, and not driving to the rim nearly as much as he used to last season.

For Edwards, he needs to find his rhythm again as a player. But there is only so much he can do. The decision to trade Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks has proven to be a bad one, as the Timberwolves are struggling without him. It is up to the front office to help Edwards and make sure that his potential is not wasted.