Zion Williamson Labels Mavs Star as Top NBA Trash-Talker

There is no shortage of trash-talkers in the NBA, but different players approach the art of trash-talking in different ways. In an interview with Overtime , New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was asked, "What's the craziest trash talk you've heard on the court?"

Surprisingly, Williamson listed Mavs star Kyrie Irving among other noted trash-talkers like Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant.

"You know what? He never initiates it, from what I've seen, but whenever someone does talk trash to him, he takes it to another gear... (that) would be Kyrie," Williamson said.

Irving has a calm spirit by nature, but if an opposing player decides to 'poke the bear,' all bets are off. Just ask Edwards how talking trash to Irving went for him during the Western Conference Finals last season.

Before the West Finals began, Edwards confidently declared that he'd be taking on Irving as his defensive matchup in a live interview on TNT. Irving responded by making Edwards run up and down the court so much that he was seen with an oxygen mask on during a timeout of one of the games.

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Irving went on to average 27.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 49.0 percent from the floor overall and 37.5 percent from deep as the Mavs defeated the Timberwolves in five games to advance to the NBA Finals. Edwards finished the West Finals with averages of 24.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 43.0 percent from the floor and 40.6 percent from deep.

After losing to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the Mavs probably wish Celtics players had talked more trash to Irving instead of just the fan base doing it.