Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards gave Nikola Jokic his credit — but Edwards’ sights are arguably more on Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray ahead of the Western Conference semifinals.
In an interview with the Denver Post, Edwards made a case that Murray is more a reason the defending NBA champions are back in the semifinals, starting with Game 1 against Edwards’ Timberwolves on Saturday, May 4.
“Jokic is the best player in the league, but without (Murray), they’re not a championship team,” Edwards said on May 2. “I mean (expletive), he averaged 30 in the Western Conference Finals. If you can find me somebody that don’t think Jamal Murray is one of the best (freaking) guards in the league, then they’re crazy. He averaged 30 in the Western Conference Finals. He’s the reason they won. I mean, without him, they’re not good. It’s just that simple.”
Edwards, who said Murray was his favorite player to watch earlier this season, is on a road to superstardom that coincides with a reckoning for a Timberwolves team that was nixed from the postseason by the Nuggets a year ago.
The 22-year-old phenom embarked on his “kill everybody” campaign this postseason.
He took down his childhood idol Kevin Durant along with fellow Team USA teammate Devin Booker by sweeping the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs. He averaged 31 points, eight rebounds, 6.3 assists and two steals in the four-game series.
Now, he’s tasked with ousting Murray, whom he only showed praise ahead of Game 1 in Denver.
“He just can get hot,” Edwards said. “He sees one go in, he might make six, seven in a row, like he did tonight. I’m one of the guys that loves watching him play.”
Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards Underdogs to Nuggets
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