"Time is a flat circle" - NBA fans comically relate Anthony Edwards-Luka Doncic link-up to MJ-Bird "You b*tch, f**k you" exchange
Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks defeated Anthony Edwards' Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 during Thursday's Game 5 Western Conference finals matchup, with Dallas advancing to the NBA Finals. Afterward, the superstars linked up, with fans likening their interaction to NBA legends Michael Jordan and Larry Bird's famous postgame conversation.
Doncic got the edge over Edwards, recording a game-high-tying 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and six 3-pointers on a blistering 63.6% shooting. That includes him outscoring the Timberwolves 20-19 in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks led nearly the entire contest. Their lead swelled to as high as 36 points en route to their 21-point close-out road victory to win the series 4-1.
However, Edwards still put up a respectable fight, tallying a team-high-tying 28 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four 3s on 55.6% shooting.
Doncic's strong Round 3 earned him West finals MVP honors, with him averaging a series-high 32.4 points per game over five contests. After securing the award and booking his first finals trip, the five-time All-Star met up with Edwards in the Target Center's tunnels.
Author and NBA fan Shea Serrano promptly highlighted the similarity between their link-up and Jordan and Bird's 1998 Eastern Conference finals exchange.
As documented in the 2020 docuseries "The Last Dance," Jordan's Chicago Bulls defeated the Indiana Pacers, coached by Bird, 88-83 in Game 7, advancing to the finals. Afterward, the two smiled and shook hands in the hallway, with Jordan comically talking trash to his former on-court rival.
"You b*tch, f**k you," Jordan told Bird. "Y'all gave us a run for our money."
Serrano quipped that "time is a flat circle," sharing a screenshot of Jordan and Bird's interaction next to the NBA's X/Twitter post featuring Doncic and Edwards.
Additional fans then shared their thoughts on the comparison, with some noting the similarities between the players.
"The new MJ and Bird," @kingayemere said.
"Luka is the bald one," @MVPdukeking said.
"Luka trash talks like Bird, that's for sure," @its_sessy said.
"'The Last Dance 2' is gonna be so fun to watch with my grandkids in 30 years," @pennielane__ said.
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Anthony Edwards looking forward to challenging Luka Doncic for West supremacy again next year
While Luka Doncic bested Anthony Edwards in their first playoff matchup, the two could be in store for plenty more postseason battles. Doncic and Edwards are only 25 and 22, respectively, so both may not be in their prime yet.
After Thursday's Game 5 loss, Edwards didn't appear overly demoralized, touching on his desire to challenge for the West title again next year.
"It's fun, man. I love it," Edwards said. "I wish we could still play. I wish we were going back to Dallas for Game 6. ... But it's super fun, and I'm looking forward to being back right in this situation next year."
Time will tell if Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards finish their careers on the levels of all-time greats like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Regardless, the two superstars appear to be the premier candidates to become the NBA's next face for the foreseeable future.
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