There’s this moment that happens in every great movie about ascending power: the moment where the prodigy becomes untouchable. Think Pacino in the last 10 minutes of The Godfather. Or Jordan holding that first Larry O’Brien trophy like it was the Holy Grail. Or even in Game of Thrones, when Arya Stark suddenly gets terrifyingly competent. Game 5 against the Lakers? That was Anthony Edwards’ moment.
It wasn’t his flashiest performance. It wasn’t the 43-point supernova from Game 4. It wasn’t the Jordanesque closeout from Game 3. It wasn’t even one of his patented, rim-punishing highlight dunks that shatters time and space and the opposing team’s morale.