The Western Convention Finals are on the horizon, and so they couldn’t get right here quickly sufficient.
The 68-win No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the red-hot No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves are set to tip off a seven-game sequence in Oklahoma Metropolis on Tuesday evening with a traditionally important NBA Finals berth on the road.
For hoop purists, this can be a matchup for the ages. Anthony Edwards, the 23-year-old future face of the NBA, is main his rag-tag group of Timberwolves into battle towards probably the most dominant regular-season group for the reason that 2016 Golden State Warriors. Being cautious of hyperbole, it’s a matchup that has a considerable bearing on how the legacies of this era of stars will likely be outlined.
Whereas Edwards’ bravado instructions the headlines, the quiet killer by the title of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma Metropolis is the one on the verge of already becoming a member of uncommon historic firm.
SGA On The Option to Historical past
With the 2025 NBA MVP Award all however within the bag pending announcement, Gilgeous-Alexander is in search of to change into simply the fifth participant within the final 25 years to win an MVP and an NBA title in the identical season. His potential firm? Solely Shaq, Tim Duncan, LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
Whereas his MVP candidacy has been the topic of loads of debate alongside Nikola Jokic, SGA’s efficiency towards the Denver Nuggets in Sport 7 was the efficiency of a participant on an all-time nice trajectory. Along with his career-defining season primarily on trial towards his greatest competitor in Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander tallied a game-high 35 factors on 12-of-19 capturing to guide his group to a decisive 125-93 win.
Nevertheless it wasn’t simply SGA’s MVP candidacy on trial, the Thunder’s fame as a corporation hung within the stability. Regardless of incomes their second consecutive No. 1 seed within the Western Convention, the Thunder had been on the verge of being despatched house within the second spherical twice in a row as effectively.
“I used to be nervous, to be trustworthy,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “Simply understanding what’s on the road. We’ve labored so laborious the entire 82-game season, we’ve all labored laborious in the summertime. To know for those who don’t convey your A-game, it might all be over with, all for nothing. However I believe that nervousness motivated me and helped me give my all on each ends of the ground and I used it to my benefit.”
Because of the efficiency of their celebrity Gilgeous-Alexander and his elite forged of teammates, together with Jalen Williams, the 68-win Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder stay heavy favorites to win their first NBA championship.
Phased By Nothing
If there’s one participant and one group within the NBA that’s going to embrace a matchup with such historic implications, it’s Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ant-Man has already earned a fame because the NBA’s “Legend Killer”, even getting a co-sign from the unique Legend Killer, WWE celebrity Randy Orton.
.@theantedwards_ ☠️ 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/yiJrpLq6Td
— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) Could 5, 2025
Edwards lived as much as that nickname within the first spherical, sending LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers packing in a gentleman’s sweep. Although Curry acquired damage in Sport one, Edwards did pack “Playoff Jimmy” Butler and first-ballot Corridor-of-Famer Draymond Inexperienced’s baggage for Cancun with one other gentleman’s sweep.
Whereas Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t but stamped as a legend, ending the soon-to-be introduced MVP’s historic march to the NBA Finals in its tracks is a a lot totally different activity than knocking off an growing older celebrity. The Timberwolves fell quick within the Western Convention Finals towards Dallas final season and that group wasn’t practically as menacing as this Thunder group.
Edwards was simply centered on ensuring his group remained contemporary regardless of 5 consecutive off-days coming into the sequence.
“(It feels totally different this yr) as a result of we acquired a bit break,” Edwards mentioned. “We acquired like 4 or 5 days to relaxation up, get therapy. So yeah, it feels a bit totally different, much more rested for positive. There’s actually no good thing about going via it final yr, we’re simply making an attempt to be extra ready this yr and never come out sluggish in Sport one with all this day off that we have now.”
If Edwards will get it achieved and caps it off with a hoop, it is a championship run that may arguably surpass Dirk Nowitzki’s in 2011 by way of prowess.
Prediction
My prediction? Oklahoma Metropolis in six video games. SGA has been probably the most constant performer within the NBA this season and I’m assured in Mark Daigenault’s skill to scheme towards Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Particularly given the essential on-the-fly adjustment he made in sport seven towards Denver, shifting Alex Caruso onto Jokic and successfully handicapping the 3-time MVP. It was a obligatory reminder that the Thunder aren’t only a juggernaut on each ends of the ground however in addition they have one within the coach’s chair. That’s a championship group.
