Lessons from my Bet on the Minnesota Timberwolves
Ok, so the Timberwolves lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Technically, it was five games, but in spirit, it was a sweep. They got crushed, and unfortunately, I must address my bet that I made, which was based not upon astute watching of NBA games, diligent work looking over stats, or advanced betting strategy. Instead, I placed an impulsive bet based on an interview I’d seen by the guy whose team just got beat by them. The guy was Kevin Durant, and I loved the way he spoke about Anthony Edwards. Here’s the blog I wrote about it. At the time, Anthony Edwards' hype was at an all-time high. It remains to be seen if it will ever reach that height again. It could have been the peak talk of his career; that’s very possible.
One theory that I think is very likely is that, given LeBron James’ rapidly approaching retirement, the NBA will have a huge hole to fill in terms of having a “face of the league,” a league spokesman, and an ambassador. Anthony Edwards is young, so the potential for longevity in that dynamic is maximal, and he’s funny, charismatic, and a smooth talker—people love his energy.
In the blog I wrote about how we’re in an era where dynasties and dominance are so difficult because of the tremendous level of play. There are so many players who are gifted to an otherworldly extent. They have grown up being the beneficiaries of an internet era that enables watching basketball clips, drills, talks, coaches, etc., to an unprecedented level. Everything is available at all times. Couple this with peak knowledge about training, nutrition, and the immense scientific advances that have accompanied sports these past years, and you can understand the massive uptick in talent. The money involved in these leagues is also at the highest level it’s ever been, so the incentive for people to become sports stars is at an all-time high. Clearly, you have a very strong class of players every single year. Anthony Edwards was being primed to be that guy, and he’s remarkable. He’s so good and very young. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back from this because he and the Timberwolves got absolutely smoked. On paper these games were so so close. The first two games were won by a combined 4 points. But time and time again Luka had an answer and was relentlessly clutch. He couldn’t be stopped. It was shocking that a team as good as the Timberwolves were down 3 games to 0. They were a great team AND they were playing very well.
As I stated before, I did not think my bet through properly because a huge factor I underestimated was Luka Doncic. I know the Celtics were the heavy favorite when I placed my bet, but I was afraid of Luka if anyone. Luka and Kyrie have been an incredible duo, and Luka, I think, is the best player in the NBA. Jokic and Embiid could also be considered, but the things Luka is doing on a nightly basis are completely ridiculous. I do think he’s MVP of this past season. I don’t know how anybody let Mark Cuban snipe him out.
How Mark Cuban Got Luka Doncic: On the night of the 2018 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Luka Doncic with the third overall pick, but they had already agreed to a trade deal with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks, who had the fifth overall pick, selected Trae Young and then traded him to the Hawks along with a future first-round pick in exchange for Doncic. Mark Cuban and the Mavericks' front office had their eyes set on Doncic for his extraordinary skills and potential, making a bold move that has significantly shaped the team's future. Doncic has since become a cornerstone for the Mavericks, showcasing his exceptional talent and transforming the team's prospects.
This duo is very impressive.
I think the way Anthony Edwards bounces back from this loss is really important. I think the way he did that with the Nuggets was incredibly impressive and had the mark of greatness. However, to reach that undeniable elite level where you’re the best player in the NBA, the response is going to have to be decisive. I’ve included this meme about Michael Jordan; it’s true. His legacy is 6-0 in the finals, and it doesn’t talk about a lot of these huge losses included in this image. The reason being, Michael Jordan avenged these losses and absolutely transformed himself physically and mentally. Let’s see if Anthony Edwards does the same thing.
Facts, but avenged.
I was nervous about Luka, but I bet against him anyway because my cousin told me his knee was messed up, that he was injured. Well…if that’s the case… you really can’t tell. But that’s what the most elite superstars ever do. They just ignore things that seem like inevitable dealbreakers. Knee injury? Who cares? I’m beyond impressed. I think what he’s doing often resembles wizardry, and I think it’s so interesting that he doesn’t appear fast; he seems slow and overweight a lot of the time, but he’s unstoppably good. He’s in the Jokic school of basketball. These next years will be interesting in terms of NBA dominance. Luka is a prime candidate. Could he win the championship? Repeat? Is a three-peat possible for anyone going forward? I’m very excited about Wembanyama; he shows insane promise.
I’m excited about the NBA again, despite my skepticism about all sports leagues being at an all-time high due to their ridiculous involvement with sports gambling brands as business partners. What could go wrong here?
“an isolated incident”