The Minnesota Timberwolves are Western Conference Finals bound.
The T-Wolves rallied back from a 20-point second-half deficit to eliminate the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets 98-90 in a Game 7 epic on Sunday night.
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Anthony Edwards, the Wolves' very own Michael Jordan, struggled to find his shot for most of the night.
However, he bounced back in the second half to score 12 of his 16 total points and secure the vital victory for the roaring Timberwolves.
“I’m finna get in my bag," he confidently mouthed during the third quarter of the contest.
Despite struggling offensively, Ant-Man showcased his skills as an elite two-way guard and played some crucial defense on Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.
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On a night when he passionately fired back at an older Nuggets fan and literally went head-to-head with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Edwards made sure to let Murray know about his lockdown D.
"I had Jamal in handcuffs!" Edwards said backstage.
Edwards later told reporters: "There's more ways to win a basketball game when you're just not an offensive player, man. I'm not one-dimensional, I'm not just a guy who can score.
"I'm a guy who can go, whoever their best guard is, I can go lock him down. So I feel like I did that on Jamal [Murray] in the third quarter and fourth quarter, and that's what turned the game around."
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Edwards has certainly never been shy about vocalising his own abilities.
In 2022, he was cast as the foul-mouthed antagonist in the Adam Sandler and LeBron James' produced movie Hustle for that very reason.
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The hungry Minnesota youngster played soon-to-be No. 2 overall draft pick, Kermit Wilts, a motormouthed foe of Spanish protagonist Bo Cruz (played by former NBA star Juancho Hernangómez) who's trying his hardest to make it to the league.
"So, where you from?" Edwards' character says in a bid to throw his rival off his game.
"Spain," Hernangomez' character bluntly responds.
"S*** sounds whack," Edwards/Wilts replies.
" Y‘all like bull fights over there right? So here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re the bull, I’m the motherf***** with the cape running your big, dumb a** in circles. That’s cool. Let’s get it.”
Although a work of fiction, Wilts' persona was clearly an exaggerated version of Edwards' natural disposition.
Ant's ascension to the pinnacle of the NBA has coincided with him rapidly becoming the most entertaining player in basketball.
He's arguably the best quote in The Association and has made press conferences near unmissable TV events.
On the court, he has drawn comparisons to MJ for his assassin's mentality, uncompromising competitive edge and killer instinct.
Like Jordan, he's also blessed with fierce trash-talking skills.
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In November, Edwards was overheard in a fiery exchange with hot-headed Warriors leader Draymond Green.
Edwards was leading his team with 33 points when Green fouled him during a transition. Edwards objected, and the two went at it.
“Don’t foul me like that,” Edwards said. “Get the f*** out of here.”
“You think I’m gonna give you a layup? What you gonna do about it? You not gonna do nothing about it. Stop talking."
"Ain't nobody worried about you, bruh,” Edwards retorted. “Hell nah.
That same month he went toe-to-toe with Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum.
"He got the stop on me at the end of (regulation), and he was talkin’ smack at the jump ball in overtime,” Edwards said. “And I told him, ‘f***, I’m comin’ again."
"(Tatum) called me up for an ISO and tried to ISO me, and I’m like, ‘I play defense, I just got five fouls,’ know what I’m sayin’?” Edwards added. “So I had to show him I could play defense."
Fast-forward to the 2024 postseason and Edwards was going at his idol Kevin Durant en route to a first-round series sweep of the Phoenix Suns.
"What the f*** did I tell you, old a**," Edwards told Durant.
"I got the utmost respect for KD," he later said.
"He comes in and competes every night. I've watched every one of his games since I've been 5. I love that guy. I'm excited to play with him this summer [with Team USA at the Paris Olympics], talk a little trash and let him know I sent him home."
Edwards' swagger and confidence have been on show throughout this historic playoff run.
He's averaging 28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, showing he can talk the talk and walk the walk.
Now, the next big face of the NBA is into his first WCFs where he faces Dallas deadly duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Edwards' stock continues to soar with every emphatic win, not just as a player, but as a premier trash-talker too.
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"I love Anthony Edwards. Best trash talking in sports right now," comic book writer and Deadpool co-creator Robert Liefeld posted on social media.
"'When I do something nice, I gotta let you know it,'" he added - which might as well be Ant-Man's mantra from here on out.