The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of reaching the NBA Finals, just one win away from clinching a spot in the championship series. However, Kendrick Perkins, a 2008 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, cautioned OKC about Minnesota Timberwolves’ star Anthony Edwards, highlighting the young player’s ability to thrive in high-pressure situations.
The Thunder are riding high after a thrilling 128-126 victory in Minnesota during Game 4. Regular season MVP Shai Gilgeous–Alexander delivered an outstanding near triple-double performance with 40 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while Jalen Williams added a crucial 34 points. The win gave OKC a commanding 3-1 series lead, putting them one game away from closing out the series.
Despite this momentum, Perkins believes the series is far from over, pointing to Edwards as a player who shines brightest in adversity. “In a situation like that, the one man that I won’t bet against is that guy right there (Edwards) because he has a lot of pride,” Perkins said about Edwards via ClutchPoints.
“Now, I’m not picking them to win the series, but when you’re on the verge of being swept and protecting your crib, I knew he was going to come out and set the tone,” he continued. “I think that’s the energy coach Finch was talking about when he called him out [after] Game 1 of, I think, it was the last series”.
Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals. (Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
Although the 23-year-old star finished Game 4 with just 16 points, Perkins emphasized Edwards’ leadership qualities and his critical role in driving the Timberwolves’ offense.
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“He’s a giant killer. Just think about how he got to each Conference Finals, who he had to go through, who he put to bed, tucked them in,” Perkins explained. “It’s just growth. The growth of him as a leader. We know he got the game, but you’re watching him now; he continues to provide more. He’s giving them more offensively, especially from a scoring standpoint. He’s every former player’s favorite player”.
Still, the former NBA champion acknowledged that the Thunder are no easy opponent. He highlighted the depth and versatility of OKC’s roster, which boasts numerous players capable of inflicting damage in different ways.
“I just think if you look at the Thunder, they got so many guys that can cut you any which way but loose,” Perkins said. “And when you have a veteran and a champion like Caruso, that makes you even more dangerous”.
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