Carmelo Anthony Warns Anthony Edwards’ Wolves After Taunting Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets: “It’s Personal Now”

Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic and their respective teams are squaring off for the third time in the past four postseasons.

Carmelo Anthony Warns Anthony Edwards’ Wolves After Taunting Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets: “It’s Personal Now”

Nikola Jokic, Carmelo Anthony, and Anthony Edwards (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Carmelo Anthony warns the Timberwolves that their trash talk could motivate Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
  • Danny Green cautions Minnesota about provoking Jokic too early in the playoffs.
  • Aaron Gordon remains unfazed by the Timberwolves' comments, emphasizing his championship experience.

Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic started off their first-round playoff series knowing their past battles would provide them with greater insight into how to beat each other.

The two teams are regular playoff competitors, with the Denver Nuggets being the only ones with championship experience. But that has not mattered to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Along with the Colorado-based team, the Wolves have made it a habit of getting one over past champions in recent years. But they still have not reached the summit.

After losing Game 1 to the Nuggets, Ant-Man mentioned that he and his team would respond in Game 2. So they did, in emphatic fashion, carving into a major deficit and eventually coming out on top.

Edwards was his usual cocky best after the game. But his teammate, Jaden McDaniels, took it one step further and called out several Nuggets players and labeled them as bad defenders.

That’s grown man talk. You didn’t beat around the bush, you called names out…. When you have that type of passion about the point you’re trying to make, it’s on. It was already a rivalry, it’s personal now. Now Jokic is sitting back like, ‘I got something for you now.’ Hearing this will take him to a whole other level… This is war, this is chess… If you don’t win game 3, though, we’ll have to have a conversation.

Carmelo Anthony said on NBC

The Hall of Famer believes that all that talk is good. But taking names and calling out their deficiencies will make it personal enough to motivate Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets. If they do respond in Game 3, then those comments could backfire badly.

Former champion asks Anthony Edwards’ Wolves to exercise caution

Many found the trash talk Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels brought to the table as something good for playoff basketball. At the same time, a three-time NBA champion felt it was ‘wild’ for them to do so.

Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have been talking a lot
Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have been talking a lot (Image via Legion Hoops/X)

He better stand on business because this is wild… You don’t say it that early… Now they are targeting you… Don’t poke the bear too early. (Nikola) Jokic, he’s known to have historical nights against Rudy (Gobert) before. He might have one against you… You’ve got to be very careful.

Danny Green said on NBA Today

The 38-year-old knows what it takes to be a champion and has also seen teams wither away from cockiness. He hopes the Minnesota Timberwolves do not experience it this early in their postseason run.

He reminded the Wolves that Nikola Jokic can inflict significant damage if provoked. The last thing they want to do is to give him that spark that he needs.

Nikola Jokic’s teammate had perfect response to Wolves’ trash talk

Anthony Edwards and his teammates will have the upper hand against Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets in Game 3. That is because they will have their passionate Minneapolis fans courtside to cheer them.

Then come the taunts, which, by now, two former serial winners believe could backfire against them. One of the ways to respond to that is to get motivated. Or, like how Aaron Gordon is, unbothered.

Brother, I don’t care.

Aaron Gordon said

It seems that the 30-year-old does not care what the Minnesota Timberwolves have to say. He has won a championship with his Denver Nuggets, and knows what he and his star teammates, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, can do.

The next two games at Target Center will either continue this back-and-forth. Or, one team will get a clear leg up over the other. It comes down to how badly both Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic want it.

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