Anthony Edwards Adjusts His Free Throw Routine After Mark Cuban's Callout - And Keeps Lighting Up the Scoreboard
Anthony Edwards has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Whether it’s taking on the league’s best defenders or shouldering the scoring load for the Timberwolves, the 22-year-old continues to evolve in real time. But this season, one of his biggest adjustments came not during a game, but at the free-throw line - and it all started with a comment from Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban.
After Minnesota’s win over the Celtics on Saturday, Edwards opened up about the change to his free throw routine - a tweak that’s flown under the radar for most fans but has clearly been on his mind.
“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,” Edwards said postgame.
That “famous guy” was Cuban, who back in September called out Edwards on the Road Trippin’ podcast, pointing out that the Timberwolves star was stepping over the line after every free throw attempt.
“Watch Anthony Edwards when he takes a free throw shot,” Cuban said. “Every single time he steps over the line. If you remember back in the day, I used to send in tapes on Shaq... and they started calling it, and he had to fix his free throws.”
Whether it was the public spotlight or a heads-up from league officials, Edwards got the message. And while he admitted the adjustment hasn’t been easy, he’s not letting it throw off his rhythm.
“I try to shoot like 200 free throws a day,” he said. “So now, the refs be like you can’t step over the line, so I had to change.”
It’s not just fans and media watching closely - Edwards said he heard from people in his inner circle, including former college coach Tom Crean, now a pregame and postgame analyst for the Timberwolves.
But here’s the thing: even with the change, Edwards hasn’t missed a beat. In fact, he’s taken his game to another level.
Through 15 games, Edwards is averaging 28.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He’s doing it with career-best efficiency, shooting 47.7% from the field and an impressive 39.7% from three. That’s not just improvement - that’s star-level production on elite efficiency.
And over the last four games, he’s been downright electric, averaging 39 points per contest, including back-to-back 40-point performances. He’s been a walking bucket, a human highlight reel, and the engine that keeps the Timberwolves offense running.
But here’s the rub: despite Edwards’ brilliance, Minnesota has dropped three of those four games - and not against juggernauts, either. These were losses to teams they should’ve handled. That’s the kind of stretch that raises eyebrows, especially in a Western Conference that’s deeper and more dangerous than it’s been in years.
The Timberwolves have the talent, and Edwards is proving - night after night - that he’s ready to lead. But if Minnesota wants to be more than a regular-season story, they’ll need to tighten things up around him. That means better late-game execution, more consistent defense, and finding ways to win when the shots aren’t falling.
For now, though, Edwards continues to shine. He’s adjusted his free throw routine without losing his edge, and he’s putting up numbers that scream All-NBA. Whether or not the Timberwolves can match his level is the question that could define their season.