Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards did not expect a comment about his free throws to take over social media, but that is exactly what happened after Minnesota’s 119–115 win over the Boston Celtics. The Timberwolves star told reporters that remarks from “some famous guy” pushed him to adjust his routine at the line, per Pro Football Network. The criticism came from Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban, whose viral comments put a spotlight on how Edwards approached one of the simplest plays in the game.
Cuban sparked the conversation in September on the “Road Trippin’” podcast. He claimed Edwards “steps over the line every single time” and even suggested he brought it up to the league. The clip spread quickly and reached Edwards, who could not ignore the attention it created. He later told Andrew Dukowitz, “Some famous guy went on Instagram or went on a podcast and was talking about my free throws, and he brought it to the attention of everybody, so I had to change it.”
The adjustment took work, and Edwards made that clear. “It’s hard, but like as much as I be in the gym it shouldn’t be that hard,” he said. “I try to shoot like 200 free throws a day.”
Cuban’s Callout Becomes a Midseason Challenge
Cuban’s full comments went deeper than a simple observation. “Watch Anthony Edwards when he takes a free throw shot,” he said. “Every single time he steps over the line. Every time.” He referenced how he once sent tapes on Shaquille O’Neal to the league and how referees began enforcing the rule more directly after that.
Cuban also described a specific late-game moment. “Anthony Edwards, we had a game against [the Timberwolves] where they were up like 93–92, with a few seconds left. He steps over the line and then the ball goes in the basket. I’m like, this is the easiest call for a referee. Just watch to see if he steps over the line, and they refuse to call it.”
NBA rules make the line simple. A shooter cannot cross it until the ball hits the rim, backboard, or net. Cuban believed referees ignored a clear violation. Edwards believed Cuban’s public critique left him no choice but to tighten his form.
After Minnesota’s win on Saturday, Edwards initially tried to downplay the moment by not naming Cuban directly. That changed when he admitted Cuban’s comments fueled the adjustment. The former Mavericks governor responded on social media Sunday morning and downplayed any intent to single out the Timberwolves star. “This has nothing to do with Ant. It was the fact that @NBAOfficial’s chose not to make an easy call,” Cuban wrote, per Dallas News. “That’s the issue. It’s not Adam Silver telling them what to call or not. They just decide themselves.”
Edwards’ Response Shows Up in His Play
The change has not slowed Edwards. He continues to hit 82.3 percent of his free throws this season, a number slightly above his career 80.5 percent. He remains the Timberwolves’ leading scorer while averaging 28.7 points per game, and his approach at the line has not disrupted the rest of his offense.
Edwards already faced Cuban and the Mavericks once this season. Minnesota walked away with a convincing 120–96 victory. He carried that same sharp rhythm into the Celtics matchup on Saturday. He finished with 39 points, went 10-for-11 at the stripe, and looked completely comfortable with a form that now sits under more scrutiny.
Cuban no longer owns the majority share of the Mavericks, but he still shapes conversations throughout the league. In this case, his critique forced a young star to confront a small detail in his game. Edwards embraced the shift, kept his routine tight, and turned outside pressure into another layer of focus during one of his strongest seasons.