From the year he entered the league, putting Yuta Watanabe on a poster before a month later exploding for a 42-point haul against the Suns, Anthony Edwards has always been special.
How special?
Special enough to warrant Minnesota using its first overall pick in the 2020 draft to select the Georgia guard, with the kind of tantalising combination of athleticism and playmaking to transform a franchise.
And that goes without even mentioning his personality which Tom Crean, Edwards’ coach at Georgia, described as “infectious”.
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“He’s a pied piper personality,” Crean told The Athletic in 2020.
“People gravitate to him. They want to be around him and people really want him to like them. It’s a tremendous aura for a 19-year-old.”
Some people have a quiet confidence in the way they go about things. Anthony Edwards is not one of them.
There is nothing quiet about the way he operates. Nothing quiet about the way he dunked on Watanabe as a rookie, or the way he trash talked Kevin Durant after hitting a 3-pointer over the Suns superstar as Minnesota won Game 1 and went on to sweep the Phoenix series.
Edwards averaged 31 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.0 steals in that series and Durant said after Game 4 that the 22-year-old was his “favourite player to watch”.
“[He has] just grown so much since he came into the league,” added Durant.
“His love for the game shines bright. That’s one of the reasons I like him the most. Love everything about Ant.”
He is one of those players who makes it hard not to like them and now Edwards is rapidly rising towards superstardom after helping take Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals.
Like Edwards, there was nothing quiet about the way the Timberwolves took it to the defending champion Nuggets, claiming the opening two games on the road before obliterating Denver by 45 points in Game 6 and clinching the series with a historic second-half comeback.
Anthony Edwards is taking over the league. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
While the basketball world has been so used to the likes of Durant, LeBron James and Steph Curry dominating the playoffs conversation, the Suns and Lakers were eliminated in the first round while the Warriors didn’t even make it out of the play-in tournament.
Even Milwaukee’s superstar duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are out of the picture after battling injuries in an opening round series defeat to Indiana.
The same goes for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, leaving Edwards as one of the biggest names left in the postseason along with Dallas superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Celtics duo Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and the much-improved Tyrese Haliburton.
But it seems like Edwards belongs in a separate category, probably along with Doncic and maybe one of either Brown or Tatum, depending on how the rest of the playoffs shake out, as the leading candidates to be the next face of the league.
Edwards in particular though seems purpose built for the role, with highlight-reel plays and an equally loud personality to match. Put simply, Anthony Edwards the player and person cuts through.
Want proof? According to the NBA, Edwards generated more than 100 million video views across the league’s social and digital platforms in the opening round of the playoffs.
That number was second behind only one player: LeBron James. Edwards had also gained the most Instagram followers among players since the start of the playoffs.
It wasn’t just the playoffs either, with Edwards finishing the regular season as the seventh most viewed player on NBA social media pages.
Edwards could be the next face of the league. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’ve been saying that. He hate when I say it but it’s true.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, meanwhile, said on NBA Today that Edwards is “the future of American basketball”.
“The thing that is so great about him is he plays both ends and he cares about both ends and he truly loves his teammates,” added Windhorst.
“He is not a conventional leader but he is an effective leader.”
That means taking responsibility when you don’t play as well because as much as a confident Anthony Edwards is an unstoppable Anthony Edwards, self-accountability is just as important.
It wasn’t like Edwards’ output of 19 points, six rebounds and six assists in the Game 3 loss to Denver was that bad either. He just has such high expectations of himself and what he is capable of.
“It’s on me,” Edwards said after that game.
“I’ll take the blame for this loss. I came out with no energy at all. I can’t afford to do that for my team. I let my team down, the fans down.”
This was a different side to the Edwards who appeared on ESPN’s NBA Today in January 2022 and was asked who is the hardest player to guard in the league.
“Myself because I’m unstoppable,” a confident Edwards replied.
Confident. Not cocky. There is a difference, according to the man himself, who later told Malika Andrews ahead of this year’s playoffs series that is the one thing people don’t understand about him and the way he goes about his game.
“A lot of people be calling me cocky,” he told Andrews.
“That’s the main thing. It’s not cocky, it’s not arrogance. I’m just a confident person. I just think I’m the best in everything that I do.”
And by the end of last season when championship-winning guard Bruce Brown was asked who the hardest player is to guard in the league, he mentioned Edwards’ name alongside Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Anthony Edwards is a rising superstar in the NBA. C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Nuggets coach Michael Malone, meanwhile, said ahead of Game 7 that Edwards had “proven to be unguardable”, with second-year bench player Christian Braun Denver’s best bet of trying to limit his effectiveness.
Edwards averaged 27.7 points throughout the series against Denver, scoring 43 points in Game 1 and 44 in Game 5, when he warned a Nuggets locker room staffer that he’d be back.
“I told them,” explained Edwards, “I said ‘I’ll see y’all motherf*****s for Game 7.’”
It is that fierce competitiveness, confidence and swagger that has people across the league, including Edwards’ own teammates, drawing parallels with Michael Jordan.
“I’ve never met a guy or been a teammate with a guy who believes more in himself than Anthony Edwards,” Mike Conley said on ‘Inside the NBA’ of Edwards, who reminds him of a “young Michael Jordan”.
Former teammate Patrick Beverley even made the comparison back in 2022 on J.J. Redick’s podcast, declaring Edwards “has a chance to be really special” in the NBA.
“If I say this, I know you guys are going to look at me like I’m crazy and I’m going to put all that pressure on that kid,” Beverley said at the time.
“But, I told him, ‘Man, you got a chance, man. You got a chance, brother, to be Michael Jordan. You really do. You really do.’
“I’ve been around a lot of them and the kid doesn’t indulge in anything negative — just all positivity, all video games. His talent level, his skill level, it’s crazy. He has a chance to be really special. Really special in this league.”
Jordan himself also called Edwards “special” after Game 1 against the Suns, according to Stephen A. Smith.
Edwards has consistently dismissed the comparisons, telling FOX Sports he can’t be compared to somebody of Jordan’s calibre.
“I want it to stop,” Edwards said. “He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.”
Meanwhile, in that sit-down interview with Andrews before the playoffs, Edwards was asked the same question and said he doesn’t want to be known as “the next Michael Jordan”.
Instead, he would prefer to be “the first Anthony Edwards”. In other words, he just wants to be himself and that is what makes Edwards so easy to root for and so marketable for the league according to assistant coach Micah Nori.
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“I think that the people gravitated to him because he was just a likeable dude,” Nori said earlier this month after a practice session.
“He doesn’t change. He is who he is. I think anytime you’re not putting on a front or you’re not fake, you don’t have to change who you are, whether you’re in front of the media, or you’re out doing commercials or playing a game.
“Anthony Edwards is who he is, he knows who he is, and I think that’s why he’s able to accept it and handle it so well.
“… There’s obviously a big difference between confidence and arrogance. He’s just a very, very confident person and trusts his ability.”
It is why when Edwards told that Denver staff member he would see them in Game 7, it didn’t seem like just talk, and it is why when he said he “wins two championships this summer”, the rest of the league should have been taking notice.
If they weren’t then, they are now and all signs point to this just being the start of Edwards’ time in the spotlight as one of the most prominent characters in a new era for the NBA.
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MAVERICKS VS TIMBERWOLVES SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Thursday, May 23, 10.30am
Game 2: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Saturday, May 25, 10.30am
Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Monday, May 27, 10am
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Wednesday, May 29, 10.30am*
Game 5: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Friday, May 31, 10.30am*
Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Sunday, June 2, 10.30am*
Game 7: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Tuesday, June 4, 10.30am*
It may not seem like much at a first glance. But it’s history in the making.
Inside one of the world’s most popular video games, one mode stands above the others as the most popular for football fans – Ultimate Team.
Since its introduction in FIFA 09, the mode – which sees players collect cards representing former and current pro players, melding them into a team and playing opponents – has become a staggering force.
Immensely popular, Ultimate Team has effectively changed the entire video game industry. It has turned EA’s football franchise into a ‘live service’ game; updated weekly, fans need to keep up with the latest and greatest player options to have the best side. And, most importantly for EA, that means they need to spend money.
To get players, gamers can unlock cards via gameplay… or they can buy packs of random cards. And to ensure you get the players you want, you’ll probably need to spend plenty. So much so that in 2020, EA earned a remarkable $2.37 billion from Ultimate Team modes across its sports franchises, according for almost 30 per cent of the company’s total income.
Plenty of analysts have been critical of this live service model and the ‘loot box’ system – the Australian government said in March it wanted mandatory classifications of M for any games containing paid loot boxes, and R 18+ for games containing simulated gambling. But it’s immensely popular, and the primary way millions and millions of football fans interact with the sport virtually.
So what’s this historic change? Put simply: women.
In EA Sports FC 24’s edition of Ultimate Team, for the first time players can play with men and women together – for example, placing Sam Kerr next to Erling Haaland as a devastating striker pairing.
It’s a big step forward from previous years, where women were in the game but siloed separately; top women’s teams or national sides could play against each other, of course, but not against men and not in any of the major single-player modes.
Now, by necessity, a huge portion of the FC fanbase will consider the top women’s players – many would have just ignored them and played other modes in previous years – because they’re going to want to play the best players they have available. And if that happens to be Alexia Putellas, so be it.
Yes, this is all about a mode in a video game. But so much of the difficulty with women’s sport is getting the same level of attention as men’s sport does – with the latter having a head-start lasting centuries, and an enormous in-built audience, some of which does not care for attempts at equality.
So this sort of promotion on a major platform is critical, especially for younger generations, who are the primary audience for video games like this; and for the female players, will now get to see a virtual reflection of themselves growing up. That matters.
Matildas and Women’s Super League stars like Steph Catley, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord will feature in EA Sports FC 24’s Ultimate Team mode. (Photo by Chris Hyde – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Source: Supplied
As John Shepherd, vice president and executive producer at EA Sports explained, it’s part of the game’s growing women’s expansion – with multiple extra leagues added to this year’s game (though not the women’s A-League).
“We’re on this kind of roadmap of really trying to deliver this game that includes women across the entire game,” Shepherd told Foxsports.com.au.
“We actually got volumetric capture (creating animations from real-life footage) for UEFA Women’s Champions League matches, which is phenomenal, so we can actually take that data and integrate that into the game.
“Sometimes the coverage is a little bit different. But we’ve hired people in our team in Germany, that’s like covering each of those (women’s) leagues. So we’ve had to build expertise in those areas.
“But it’s been super exciting for our team, and just there’s so much more to kind of learn about the sport and how we can really bring things together.”
The key to the decision actually working is another nod towards equality.
Women are rated against women, and men are rated against men – so superstars like Kerr and Putellas may rank in the 90s overall, like Haaland and Lionel Messi – but those ratings then carry over, rather than being scaled in any way.
Unsurprisingly some football fans have reacted poorly to this. While it’s fair to suggest a top men’s team would beat a top women’s team, it would’ve been entirely impractical (and somewhat impossible) to try and balance out how good a female player would be in a men’s competition. It would’ve also ensured the women would never be used by Ultimate Team players.
So, instead, EA has used the fact the mode is a fantasy in the first place to place both men and women on a level playing field.
Australia and Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr was the highest-rated woman in last year’s game, rated as a 91 overall – on par with the top men’s players. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“The ratings are all the same across the game, so we look at it by competition. And now you can have these mixed gender teams and really kind of build out what you want that team to be,” Shepherd said.
“So we’re really trying to kind of unite the world around football. And I think there’s just there’s power in that.
“Obviously, we have, you know, the clubs and the authenticity of who they are. And in Kick Off and those modes, you’ll play with those clubs, right?
“But Ultimate Team is a squad-building fantasy-based mode. And so it seems like a great opportunity for players to kind of connect with whoever they like, wherever they want, and have a team. So we’re really excited about that.”
EA Sports’ senior vice president of brand Andrea Hopelain is “proud” of where the team has gotten to – and the growing presence of women’s footballers in FC.
“We’re on a journey. We’re on a journey with women’s football – we’ve been on the journey for a lot longer than we’ve been talking about that journey,” she told Foxsports.com.au.
“It took us a while to get to the right skeleton and right rigs (for player models) … multiple years of technology development to get to, what I call the beauty of the women’s game, which has such a different finesse and play style than the men’s game does.
“And this year, bringing women into Ultimate Team – what I would say is we’re going to continue to be on that journey; the depth to the men’s game is significant, and it’s because we’ve been able to build it for so long. So we’re on track. I’m really proud of where we are today and I see a really bold future for us.”
The negativity around the equal ratings was only equalled by the reaction to EA’s reveal of the cover of the pricier Ultimate Edition.
Featuring superstar players, past and present, male and female, the quality of the actual player designs varied – especially for those who are no longer active.
“It’s easy to live in an echo chamber, and just listen to the backlash on some of the social media platforms out there,” Hopelain said.
“But there’s quite a lot of positives; there’s no one other than EA Sports that can bring all of those players together on one cover. If you go out there (at the event), I’m sure you’ve seen all the trophies; there’s no one that can bring all of that together like EA Sports can.
“And so I think it’s our job to continue to bring the world together around football, this is the world’s game.
“And, yes, we may have some (players) that don’t want that. They can play the game how they choose to play it; we have the data that would show that plenty of people are very excited and are playing in new ways and mixed ways that that show the diversity.
“And so it’s our obligation and our commitment to keep giving players that choice.”
Max Laughton travelled to Amsterdam for the launch of EA Sports FC 24 courtesy of EA.
Australian basketball star Jack White has the chance to be part of unique NBA history.
White’s Denver Nuggets will set out to win their first championship when they face off with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, kicking off in Denver on Friday at 10.30am (AEST).
It’s been 47 long years in the making for the Nuggets, who entered the NBA in 1976 and had lost four Conference Finals series prior to last week’s triumph against the LA Lakers.
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Two-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic has been a juggernaut for Mike Malone’s team throughout the post-season — averaging a triple-double after three rounds — while Jamal Murray’s epic resurgence from an ACL injury has been a fantastic story too.
Meanwhile White, who played in 17 regular season games in his first NBA season with the Nuggets, has been watching from the sidelines over the playoffs, being down in the Nuggets’ depth chart.
But as White explained to foxsports.com.au, he’s felt like he’s had as much respect as Malone or Jokic within the organisation during his time in Denver, such is the culture it’s built.
It comes after the 25-year old first joined the Nuggets last July on a two-way contract, which has meant he’s split his time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold, playing predominantly for the latter.
He made a strong impression, averaging 20.9 points, 1.9 triples and 9.6 rebounds in 14 games for Grand Rapids Gold.
But White now has the opportunity to be part of something bigger than himself and become just the seventh Australian to win an NBA championship ring, joining greats in Luc Longley, Andrew Graze, Patty Mills, Aaron Baynes, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova.
He opened up to foxsports.com.au on the Nuggets’ run to the NBA Finals, his own journey and the opportunity to represent the Boomers again.
Q: How are you feeling and how is the team feeling coming off that massive series sweep over the Lakers?
JW: It’s good to be back in Denver and have a bit of time at home, which has been a change up from the past couple of months on the road and all that. The vibes are great and it’s obviously a huge accomplishment for the group to be Western Conference champs. But in saying that, our goal is still not complete and the job’s not done — we’ve still got four more wins we need to get … we’re just enjoying a well-earned rest for all the lads that are playing … just an incredible experience and an incredible run. It’s not done yet.
Q: Can you take us behind the scenes of what it’s been like in the inner sanctum of the Nuggets over the past week?
JW: The first thing that comes to mind is to point out the culture that’s been established here within the group and within the organisation. I think a big part of it is when your best player, Nikola (Jokic), is the guy that couldn’t give two damns about himself or scoring or anything like that. It’s naturally contagious throughout the organisation. The locker room we have, the vets we have and the guys who are sacrificing their own egos and their own talents for the good of the team and supporting each other. It’s been special to be a part of and you know and appreciate that it’s something that isn’t common within the NBA and it’s hard to make that happen. That in itself is one of the reasons we’ve been able to have success.
The Nuggets celebrate after beating the Lakers (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Obviously it’s a long NBA season with 82 regular season games and then going into the playoffs, but it’s never going to be perfect. You’re gonna lose games, there’s gonna be ups and downs, but having each other to fall back on for us has been a huge positive and a huge strength of ours as a group. I think that’s really starting to show as we’ve been able to make adjustments and see how we play and how we interact throughout these playoffs.
Q: Has there been a certain point from your perspective when the genuine possibility of winning a championship felt more real?
JW: For me personally, not really. I think it’s been consistent throughout the whole year. Honestly man, this is something we’ve talked about as a group in training camp in September. We set out our goals for the year — one of them was to beat the franchise record for regular season wins in a season, which was 58 and we just fell short of. Along with that, having the No. 1 seed, having home court advantage during the playoffs and winning a championship — these are all things we’ve spoken about the whole year.
As crazy as it is and as hard as it is to reach this point — and obviously I’m super fortunate to be able to experience this in my first year — the funny thing about it man, is I feel like we are right where we are meant to be. We have all the talent in the world and we have all the successful pieces to build a successful team. Guys are finally healthy, that’s been a big thing. Especially for Jamal (Murray) and Mike (Michael Porter Jr.), all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together at the right time for us. It was just a matter of us going out there and doing it and being locked in.
Q: What was it like coming up against arguably the greatest player of all time in LeBron James in a playoff series?
JW: It’s unreal just to see him up close and what he did in Game 4 and the first half alone. He’s 38 years old and he’s putting up near 40-point triple doubles in elimination games. The athleticism and explosiveness he still has at his age is by no accident. The same with his IQ and the way he’s able to read the game and help his teammates, it was really cool to see that on full display up close.
LeBron in action against the Nuggets (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images/AFP)Source: AFP
For us, making adjustments onto him and understanding that he is, as you said, one of the greatest players to ever play the game and he’s seen it all before. His runs in the playoffs have been unprecedented throughout his career and that’s why we knew we couldn’t mess around in that series and we were obviously fortunate enough to close it out 4-0. A glimmer of home can go a long way. We almost kept them alive in Game 4 and I wouldn’t have been surprised if LeBron was able to do more if we didn’t close them out.
Q: What’s the reaction been like from the Nuggets fans who’ve waited so long just to see their team play in an NBA Finals? What have the scenes been like in Denver when you returned?
JW: I got back super late to my apartment … the city was getting around it pretty hard, people honking and people out on the street and stuff. It’s amazing to be a part of man and to soak it all in.
It’s been unreal the support we get from the city, it’s definitely a big sporting city. The hockey team (Colorado Avalanche) won the Stanley Cup last year and obviously the Nuggets have been making good runs, there’s plenty of stuff going on and the city definitely gets behind its sport. For the Nuggets, it feels like a long time coming.
Especially this year, we’ve had the No.1 seed (in the West). I think it’s a bit of a sigh of relief in the community. Everything’s coming together and it’s a special time for Denver basketball … the concierge in my building, he grew up a Denver fan his whole life and he was just ecstatic the whole time, talking to me and Colin (Gillespie) as we got back to our building at like 2.30am, he was just over the moon.
That in itself is a good reflection of how people feel about it. Just super excited to begin our quest to get four more (wins) and achieve our ultimate goal and give the city what it deserves and give our group what it deserves. This is something people make a lot of sacrifices for, there’s a lot of work that’s been put into this season. We’re ready to see it all pay off.
Q: Everyone knows how freakishly talented Nikola Jokic is and how valuable he is on the court. What’s he like as a teammate?
JW: The best way I’d describe Jokic is he’s just like a regular person. If you spoke to him and you didn’t know anything about basketball, you wouldn’t know he has like the biggest contract in NBA history. He loves his horses back home and his family. He loves video games and stuff, he’s just a regular dude. And he’s really personable and super approachable.
Jokic after winning Western Conference Finals MVP (Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How)Source: AFP
Obviously he’s got that mode he goes to when it’s game time where he can come out and perform and do what he does. But it’s never about him, it’s always about the team and winning. It’s just incredible what he’s been doing the whole playoffs and the whole year. To be frank, he’s really evolving the game of basketball, especially for big men. The consistency he’s able to play with has just been special to watch and witness up close. Unbelievable player and unbelievable person. Exactly the type of guy you want as the head of the snake at your organisation.
Q: Jamal Murray came to Australia last August and was asked if he was confident he could get back to his form in the 2020 NBA Bubble. His response was: “No doubt, that wasn’t even my best though, that’s the thing. There’s another level you guys haven’t seen yet.” Are we seeing the best of Murray right now?
JW: I don’t even know if we are still. Obviously what he’s been doing has been unreal, but at this point, it’s to be expected from him and how he’s been performing the whole playoffs and how he’s been progressing all year since coming back from the injury. Being away from the game for so long, and I know this, you come in and feel like you have no idea how to play … once you start getting those games under your belt, it slows down and you start to feel more like yourself and a better version of yourself. He’s sort of at that stage.
You ask anyone within the organisation, I don’t think they’ll give you any indication of a shock or a feeling of being surprised about the type of performances he’s given us. His approach to the game, the work he’s put in – not just for the injury – but in general. His mental approach to the game is so diligent and he’s so focused. It’s been unbelievable.
It goes along with the theme of everything clicking at the right time. I think a big thing for the Nuggets has been his absence with his injuries, but now he’s finally had a bit of luck on that front. It’s been awesome to see him show he wasn’t sort of a one-hit wonder per se with the Bubble. This is who he is and this is what he does.
Q: Everyone talks about ‘Bubble Murray’ like it was some special rich vein of form … is it fair to say Murray plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder to prove he’s much more than ‘Bubble Murray’?
JW: Yeah, 100%. I think he still has a chip and feels like he has things to prove. I saw a thing today on social media, it’s the uniqueness of his career — he’s got the most 20-point fourth quarters in playoff history. He’s never been an All-Star or All-NBA, but who he is is very well established. He’s one of those guys who, again, maybe being in a smaller market team, maybe guys are under appreciated.
Murray is back to his best form (Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How)Source: AFP
Jok’s (Jokic) second-team All-NBA and an All-Star (this season), but that’s it. We’re the No. 1 seed and guys are just doing their jobs … it’s good to see guys finally starting to get more recondition … we’re obviously working towards the biggest reward you can get to show how much everyone’s really bought in.
Q: Have Jokic and Murray done anything for you personally behind the scenes? Have they shown you anything or are there any personal stories you can share of how those two guys have helped you?
JW: I could go on and on and pick out a heap of stories, because that’s the type of guys they are. I don’t have a car here, so I’ll pretty much ride with Jamal every road trip, he’ll pick me up and we’ll go to the airport. We’ll chat about the games, play video games together and everything like that. We have a good relationship and we’re the same age.
It’s less of a thing where these guys are bringing me to the side and giving me pointers. Watching how they operate is the most beneficial and rewarding thing for me, especially at this time of the year, just their IQs.
One of the best things for us throughout the whole playoff series is their two-man game and the whole chemistry they have. Jok’s been here eight years and Jamal’s been here seven years. Nikola is only 28 and Jamal has just turned 26 — they’re still super young and have a lot of basketball to be played, and that’s the scary thing. You talk about youth, MPJ (Michael Porter Jr.) is 24 still, AG (Aaron Gordon) is 27, Pope’s (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) 30, but he’s running around like he’s 20 years old still. It’s just an exciting time for the group.
In general, everyone’s really good teammates and we have a really good locker room. Those two guys (Jokic and Murray) are our best two players, how they operate and conduct themselves has a big impact on how we are and how we go. They deserve a lot of credit. I saw Jamal shout out a lot of guys (who used to play for the Nuggets) — Monte (Morris), Gary (Harris), Paul Millsap, Torrey (Craig) and Will Barton — guys who have contributed to the culture, because this is something that’s been building for a long time. I’m just fortunate I’m able to come in here and see it when it’s at its peak or approaching that. It’s special.
Q: Your coach, Mike Malone, has made a lot of headlines throughout the playoffs about the narrative of how the Nuggets don’t get much respect from the US national media … has that been a key motivational theme for the team?
JW: I think so … it’s like us vs everyone else and it helps keep us as a group focused on ourselves and not get caught up in the outside noise. We do use it in a positive way where it’s like: ‘We’re going to take care of business and then we’ll see who’s talking at the end’, type of thing. It’s pretty obvious at this point in all of our eyes what goes on in the media being a small market team … but so be it, if that’s going to be what it’s going to be, we’ve just got to focus on doing our job, and we’re doing a good job of it, so we’ve just got to keep doing that. We’ll be rewarded if we keep putting the work in every day and keep focusing on the things we can control.
White fights for a rebound (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Q: It feels like Malone, just like the team, doesn’t get enough credit and we don’t hear as much about him compared to some of the bigger names in the NBA coaching ranks. What’s he like as a coach and what’s he been like as a mentor specifically for you?
JW: I think he’s great. Again, with the theme of the organisation, he’s super approachable and a super personal guy. He’ll crack jokes with you and he has great relationships with all the players. His preparation for every game is at a high level and his collaborations with other coaches and all the support staff … I think that is reflective of the organisation per se.
For example, after we won Game 4, Jok is giving his West Conference Finals MVP speech and he’s shouting out our equipment guys by name. I think that’s a good symbol of how we are.
Although (Malone) is the head coach, it’s a very collaborative thing. As a person, he doesn’t put himself above others. I felt super embraced from the get go. I’m a two-way guy and No.16 or No.17 on the roster down the totem pole, but I feel like I have as much respect in the organisation as the head coach or the MVP, that’s just how it is.
He’s (Malone) been a big part of that, he’s been here ever since Jokic has and he’s been through everything Jamal’s gone through. The relationships he has with his players and especially the guys at the core of our team, it’s super important in establishing the culture and having the tight-knit group. We’re able to understand it’s a long season and things are going to go wrong, but it’s how we respond.
We stay together, that’s something that’s been emphasised since training camp – winning as a group and not individually. That’s something that’s going to propel us forward, our ability to play deep and share the ball and the things we’ve shown all year. But obviously coach is a mastermind at putting all the pieces together along with the playing group and the vets. The IQ and the smarts we have in the room each time we meet is next to none, so it’s a really cool thing to be around.
Q: Malone shared a story of Murray’s fears he’d get traded after his ACL injury and how he hugged him and told him: ‘Hell no. You’re ours. We love you and we’re going to help you get back.’ That feels like it personifies what you just said.
JW: It’s something that’s been built over time. There’s been hiccups for sure and adversity. But the one thing about the organisation is guys are stuck in there. It’s been in development for a long time and goes back to Jamal shouting out those guys who’ve left the team but have had a monumental impact on the organisation, the city and ultimately on us and what we’re doing now. It wouldn’t be possible without the guys before us.
Nuggets coach Mike Malone (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
That’s a special thing when you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. You see these past players showing support for our team and everything like that. Even this summer when I got to Denver, Monte Morris had been traded, but we were hanging out and developing a relationship and working out and these sorts of things.
It’s a special culture and something I think is super uncommon in the NBA. It’s a big reason why it’s a separating factor for us. For me, I’m just trying to soak it all in man. It’s definitely something that definitely can’t be taken for granted.
Q: How special was receiving the Defensive Player of the Game necklace from Malone in the last regular season game against the Sacramento Kings?
JW: It was pretty cool, it wasn’t something I was going for. But it was good to get that recognition. I was just trying to play hard and enjoy the opportunities that I was given. I was fortunate enough to play the last 15 minutes of that game, I just tried to leave it all out there. I fortunately got some boards and a nice little dunk. We got a win, which was always good, and that was the cherry on top.
We had lost five of our last six prior to that game. I was like, we just need to find a way to win this man and start to build some better momentum heading into the playoffs. That was obviously a nice little bonus that came with it.
Q: Is there anyone on the team you’ve personally gravitated towards or someone who’s taken you under their wing?
JW: My locker is in-between Aaron Gordon and Nikola, so I’m around those guys a lot and we’ll be talking smack and spending time together in that regard. I spend a lot of time with Jamal. Reggie (Jackson) actually since he’s gotten here has been huge for me, we work out together a lot and get shots and work out with our shooting coach Mike Panberthy.
White scores during a regular season game (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The vets we have — DJ (DeAndre Jordan), Ish (Smith), Jeff Green and the rookies. I feel like we have such a great dynamic of youth, great vets and guys in their prime. I can’t single out anyone if I’m honest, man. It’s such an all-round thing, there’s no little groups and everyone just comes together well. You could flip flop everything around and have whatever combination of people you want, it’s still going to be the same thing … that’s a credit to the boys themselves, but also the front office in constructing something that’s working together so perfectly. It’s a special environment.
Q: You’re kid from Traralgonthat’s now a member of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. How do you summarise your time in the NBA, and more broadly, your overall path to get to where you are now?
JW: It’s wild man, it’s one of those things where I’ve got to pinch myself sometimes, considering everything. Finishing college when the pandemic was starting and heading back to Australia. Tearing my Achilles 10 games into my professional career and getting back from that in time for my second year.
Staying healthy and having the opportunity to go to Summer League, play for the Boomers and come away with the two-way contract and be a part of this and learn and develop and get better in this system — both in the G League and the NBA. I couldn’t have pictured this man, it’s honestly surreal.
White blocks a shot by Chicago’s Javon Freeman-Liberty (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
At the same time, these are things I’ve wanted to do and I’ve been talking about with my family and friends since I was 12 or 13 years old. I wanted to pursue basketball, be an NBA player and be an Olympian. It’s surreal that I’m able to work towards ticking off these goals and things I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid.
Especially in this case, to be able to do it in my first year in the NBA and be a part of such a great group, staff, organisation and city. It’s special. Again, just trying to not take anything for granted and trying to soak in every moment and enjoy it. What an incredible experience.
Q: Do you think you’ll be back in Denver next season?
JW: All the feedback has been really positive. I’ll go through all that stuff with my boy Sammy, my agent, when the time comes. Honestly, it’s something I’m not really worried too much about. I’m confident with the work I’ve put in around the group, in the G League and how I’ve conducted myself and how I can fit into this organisation.
When it’s time to take care of all that stuff, hopefully it’s all positive. But I’ll cross that bridge when I need to get to it … I would love to (stay here), I feel like I fit in well with the organisation and I love the city and I love the team, so that would be ideal.
Q: You’ve been named on an extended squad for the Boomers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, How excited are you about the possibility of teaming up with Aussie legends like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles as well as rising stars Josh Giddy, Dyson Daniels and Josh Green?
JW: A dream come true. These are things I’ve been dreaming of doing in basketball my whole life. To be selected in an 18-man squad is a huge honour. There’s going to be some really good players that miss out, and there were some unbelievable players that weren’t even named in the squad. So I’m super grateful that I’ve been named and recognised with the likes of the talents you mentioned.
Dellavedova and White speak during a meeting between their teams (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
I’m not playing right now in the playoffs, so a big focus for me is getting ready for that and making sure I’m prepared. Just super excited for the opportunity, there’s nothing better than the opportunity to put on the green and gold and represent your country at the highest level.
I’m sure the group will be looking to get a gold medal at this World Cup, and that’s something I definitely want to be a part of. So fingers crossed that all works out, but super humbled and super excited about that whole prospect as well.
Q: Everyone praises the camaraderie of the Boomers team. Can you speak on that and whether you’ve been in contact with any of the other Aussies during the Nuggets’ playoff run?
JW: In regards to the culture, even though it’s something I haven’t been extensively a part of, even when I was with the team before Summer League last year for the World Cup qualifiers, it was something that was definitely felt during that period of time. Getting my jersey presented to me for the first time from David Barlow and Joe Ingles was super special, those are two guys I’ve looked up to my whole career.
To be teammates with them and potentially with Joe this summer is unreal. It’s a big credit to those guys for building a culture that’s so prominent and so special to the country and the guys who are a part of it.
White and Landale embrace during a regular season game (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
In terms of chatting with Aussies during this run, obviously I’ve been in touch with Jock (Landale) because we were playing them (Phoenix Suns) last series. I’m definitely in touch with guys here and there, there’s nothing too specific. I’m sure that stuff will pick up, especially once the season is done and we move onto that as the main focus.
Everyone is all over the place doing their own thing at the moment, so it hasn’t been too heavy in terms of conversations. But looking forward to getting with all the guys in camp and picking that up leading up to it.
Q: You mentioned Landale, what was the experience like coming up against him in the semi finals?
JW: It was weird. I obviously wanted us to come out on top, but I also wanted to see him do well on an individual level as well, which he did, so I was happy for him in that regard. But it was definitely a bit weird, because I wanted to show support and everything like that.
We won a championship together at Melbourne United and we’re good mates. We kind of left the catching up and stuff to post games, especially for him, because he was playing a lot and his role progressed during the series. I was leaving the ball in his court in terms of if he wanted to catch up or grab a bite or whatever it may be. But we were definitely chatting a bit of rubbish pre-game and post game.
It was great to see him come into his own within that series and take the challenge, especially guarding Jok and being productive on the offensive end. But his performance was no surprise for me with how hard he plays and his smarts. I think he’s a great fit for their organisation.
Erling Haaland set a new Premier League record of 35 goals in a season as the Manchester City striker took his tally in all competitions this campaign to 51 by scoring against West Ham.
Haaland was kept quiet for much of the first half, hardly ever receiving the ball in front of him. In the second half, a tactical tweak allowed City to play behind the lines with more frequency, and the landmark goal came when Jack Grealish fed a well-weighted pass to Haaland, who dinked his first-time shot over West Ham keeper.
The 22-year-old moves beyond the 34 goals scored by Alan Shearer for Blackburn in 1994/95 (42 games) and Andy Cole when at Newcastle a season earlier (40 games) – though both played in a 42 game season, four more than the current campaign.
Haaland broke the record in his 31st game, and has five games to play this season to add to his tally.
The previous record for a 38-game season was Mohamed Salah’s 32 goals in 36 games with Liverpool in 2017-18.
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However, Haaland is still some way short of the all-time record for goals in an English top-flight season of 60 in 39 games set by Everton legend Dixie Dean in 1927/28.
Haaland said of the pursuit of that record: “I don’t think of this now. I’m going to sleep on this game and wake up tomorrow … but we cannot keep thinking about these records, I would become crazy in my head, so I don’t think of this.
“I will go home and play some video games and eat something and then sleep … then we think about Leeds. That is my life.”
The next target on his demolition sweep of the history books will likely be Ron Davies’ 37 for Southampton in 1966-67.
In his first season in English football, Haaland has rewritten the record books as City close in on a potential treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
He is the first player in the English top flight to score a half century of goals in all competitions since 1931.
Haaland told Sky. “It is a special night and special moment … I am really happy and proud … what more is there to say?
“My first thought was to run towards the goal … Jack [Grealish] said before the game he wanted to give me the assist for the breaking goal.”
Haaland received a guard of honour from his teammates as he exited the ground, with legendary commentator Peter Drury saying: “A remarkable accomplishment from a remarkable athlete.”
Haaland said the celebration “was a nice feeling … it was really painful! Everyone really hit me. [But] it was a nice thing and I am really happy.”
City coach Pep Guardiola said: “It is unbelievable how many goals Erling has scored. So many important goals to help us win games. He is a unique person, as a player but also the person is special. He deserved the guard of honour because it is an incredible milestone.”
