NEW YORK – Kessler Edwards’ time as a player on the Dallas Mavericks’ active roster has ended. And what a whirlwind it was.
Edwards was one of the Mavs’ two-way players this season. And under NBA rules, two-way players can be on an NBA team’s active roster for only 50 games.
Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks was the 50th game for Edwards. And while his stats might not blow anybody away, Edwards was one of the mainstays on the Mavs’ roster, especially when their top three centers — Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II — went down with various injuries.
All Edwards did at 6-7 was step in and show some grit and grind while battling other centers around the league who were four, five or six inches taller than him.
“I think we should all shed a tear and then pour one out,” guard Spencer Dinwiddie said. “As (center Dwight Powell) says, the Kess of death did a great job holding down the center position.
“We’re going to miss him. Obviously, (he’s) a great teammate, great vibes in the locker room and he did everything he could while he could.”
Edwards averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.1 minutes and shot 49.6% from the field in 40 games for the Mavs. He started 18 games and had 10 other games where he was on the active roster, but did not play.
Yet, Edwards had no idea he would be receiving this much playing time.
“It’s been crazy – a lot of unexpected stuff,” Edwards said. “But it’s been a lot of opportunities as well. So, I’m just glad to have been able to take advantage of that and get to play as much as I did.
“It was a lot of adjustments playing with new guys and trying to figure out what the coaches and what the team needed me to do. It was new.”
Mainly what was new to Edwards was playing the rough and tough center position, where action down in the trenches can be treacherous. By nature, he’s a small forward/power forward and spends a lot of time battling players his size.
But when injuries to the Mavs’ centers started stacking up, they turned to Edwards for some much-needed help. And he did a bang-up job, to say the least.
“It was very different,” Edwards said. “Thankfully, I had great teammates and good coaches and they kind of told me how to play that position at the NBA level. It
was new for me, but I had a lot of help.
“Just the tips and pointers that the staff has given me (was helpful). Even the big guys like AD, D-Live and Gafford told me how they normally do things.”
It wasn’t just what Edwards was able to accomplish at the center position that stood out to coach Jason Kidd.
“We can talk about playing the center position,” Kidd said. “But just his development from the start of this year (was solid) to this being his last game for us until if we do decide to re-sign him at a later date.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked and he’s improved, and he’s shooting the ball well.”
And that’s not all.
“Kessler is a good player,” said guard Brandon Williams, who has two games left to play on his two-way contract. “He brings a lot to the team, a lot of small-ball five.
“He’s spacing the floor out a lot, and he rebounds. We’re definitely going to miss him.”
Edwards and Williams both spent time this season with the G League’s Texas Legends. But when the Mavs came calling, they both were excited about the promotion to the NBA.
“We both have been working out for a whole year,” Williams said. “So, it’s kind of good that those workouts and everything like that is going to pay off.
“I always knew he had the tools. I just saw his confidence grow throughout the whole year.”
So did forward Naji Marshall, who acknowledged that Edwards had an “unbelievable” impact on the Mavs this season.
“He came and did whatever they asked him to do,” Marshall said. “He played big, he played guard, he shot the three, he got stops, rebounded, and he played hard for us.
“Shout out to Kess. He’s supposed to be here (in the NBA) and hopefully he gets another opportunity to showcase his skill set.”
That’s exactly what Edwards is banking on. In the meantime, he’ll still be working out with the Mavs. But he’s run out of games to play this season.
“I’m just thankful that I got to play this much and even get the opportunity to run out of games,” Edwards said. “I’m just thankful for all the experiences that I had this season.”
BRIEFLY: Amauri Hardy, the older brother of Mavs guard Jaden Hardy, is in his second week playing for the Denver Nuggets’ G League team – the Grand Rapids Gold. In three games with the Gold, Hardy is averaging 5.3 ppg in just 5.9 mpg while shooting 55.6 from the field and 50 percent from three-point range . . . There’s been plenty of discussion about the Mavs and Phoenix Suns battling for the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings and the rights to secure one of the four play-in tournament spots. But seed No. 9, currently owned by the Sacramento Kings, is also in play. The Kings own a 35-37 record, the Suns are in the 10th spot with a 35-37 record, and the Mavs are 11th with a 35-38 worksheet. Unfortunately for the Mavs, they don’t own any of the tie-breaker scenarios. The Kings were 3-0 against the Mavs this season and the Suns were 3-1 against the Mavs this season.
X: @DwainPrice
Share and comment