“To be the man, you gotta beat the man.” That is one of the most iconic quotes, and it perfectly sums up what is happening with Anthony Edwards and the rest of the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to face the Golden State Warriors in a highly anticipated 2nd round matchup in the NBA Playoffs. While there are plenty of storylines to follow in this series, there is one in particular that has caught my interest: This series could be the moment Anthony Edwards takes his rightful place as the new face of the NBA.
You can say what you want but Ant Edwards has been putting up a resume that can’t be ignored. If the Wolves knock off the Warriors this will be the third time in the last 2 seasons that they have sent home a team featuring a generation-defining player of the NBA. Many may look at this as some type of fluke; however, I disagree, I think this a pattern that we should peel back layer by layer.
It started with the 2024 Playoffs. In many ways, this was Ant-Man’s coming-out party on the national stage. The Wolves’ run began with a first-round matchup against star star-studded Phoenix Suns featuring former Finals and League MVP Kevin Durant. The Wolves dominated the series, sweeping the Suns with Ant leading both teams in points and assists. In an iconic moment during game 1, Ant-Man showed no fear of his favorite player when he got in KD’s face and let it be known that he was there to hoop!
Fast forward to this year’s playoffs, where the Wolves were in a familiar situation going up against more all-time greats. This time, they would face the LeBron James and Luka Doncic led Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Once again, Ant Edwards led the charge for the Wolves, leading the team in points and assists per game. The Wolves handled their business and advanced dominantly. But the moment that stood out? Ant getting into a shoving match with LeBron going down the floor. He wasn’t just hooping, he was sending a message to the all-time leading scorer, Ant made it clear: “I’m not scared of you.
Let’s bring things to what’s next. The Wolves are set to face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the second round. The Warriors have been the gold standard of the NBA for the last decade, and Steph has been at the center of it all. A multiple-time MVP and NBA champion, he’s completely revolutionized how the game is played—and even now, he remains one of the most dangerous players in the league.
Now it’s Ant’s turn to go head up with him.
If the Timberwolves win this series, Anthony Edwards will have eliminated Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry… three of the most dominant and influential players of the 21st century… in back-to-back playoff runs. That’s not just an impressive accomplishment…that’s legendary! Those three have been the faces of the league for the past 15 years. But the outcome of this series could mark the moment Ant becomes the certified face of the future.
Whether it is the stats, the moments, or the swagger Anthony Edwards is making it damn near impossible to ignore him and what we are witnessing. Unlike other young stars around the league, his energy just seems different. He’s a player that those of all ages can root for with his old-school toughness and competitiveness, he has shown time and time again.
To put it bluntly, he is a DAWG, and that is what the NBA needs as its new face. If he leads the Wolves past the Warriors, it won’t be a question of who the face of the league will be… the answer will be simple: Anthony Edwards!
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