Anthony Edwards recently stepped into the spotlight at the Chase Center during a pivotal match against the Golden State Warriors. It’s worth noting that this game was the second night of a home-and-home series. It afforded Edwards an excellent opportunity to prove just how far he has come as a player. Five months ago, he began to illustrate his evolution as an all-around threat on the court, a transformation that has drawn comparisons to legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
In another defining moment of the game, Edwards put together a stretch of plays that showed his newfound age. He confidently fed the rock to Julius Randle, who was parked at the top of the key. Then, he sprinted full speed to the ball side right wing to help set up Jaden McDaniels for an open look at a three-pointer. This play highlighted Edwards’ unique vision and his obvious ability to trust his teammates in clutch moments.
The Warriors ripped off a quick 9-0 run to double up Edwards’ play. Yet this closing performance highlights the hard work that awaits both him and his team as they move forward. Throughout his career, Edwards has hit obstacles in the clutch, often failing to convert the tying or go-ahead shot. He hasn’t scored in these high-leverage situations. In actuality, he is still 0-for-15 in the last 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in regular season games.
Even with these numbers, Edwards has been remarkable in this season’s playoffs. He’s scored 15 points on 4-for-7 shooting in a grand total of 14 clutch minutes. Unbelievably, he somehow handed out five assists with zero turnovers during the pressure cooker that was the 2025 postseason. Earlier in the season, he was 0-for-6 with a turnover in crunch time, which raises questions about his consistency under pressure.
Edwards fought his way through a rough sophomore campaign. He went 0-for-7 on shots to tie or take the lead for his team, setting a new league record for misses on such attempts. His coaches and teammates are hoping to continue to feed this competitive monster. They’re working to make sure that energy gets directed to the right place.
Kevin Durant gave some solid advice to Edwards. He pointed out that establishing a reliable catch-and-shoot ability is very critical to Edwards’ long-term success. Edwards accepted the sage advice. He looked back on how his mindset changed as he started to learn to appreciate collaboration over personal heroics.
“My first couple of times in the playoffs down the stretch, I always just wanted to win the game myself,” – Anthony Edwards
His trip isn’t just about his own experiences, but what he learned by observing greats like Murray. Edwards noted, “Because growing up, when you watch the games, you always think like, ‘Oh, they always hit the big shots!’ But sometimes they make the extra pass, the right play.” This moment epitomizes his character development and openness to change.
Edwards credits a lot of this growth to the mentorship of his trainer Chris Hines. Hines never lets him forget it, constantly reminding him that Michael Jordan had Steve Kerr on his team. Even the world’s best athletes can’t win a game by themselves!
“My trainer always tells me, ‘Michael Jordan had Steve Kerr,’” – Anthony Edwards
This philosophy is starting to take root with Edwards as he’s starting to trust his teammates more and more. He looked back on his journey and stressed the need to process plays properly. Among other points in the interview, he emphasized the importance of maintaining an aggressive stance.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has stressed the importance of making the right play down the stretch.
“Make the right play, make the right play,” – Chris Finch
Finch shared a story that might better depict Edwards’ character and thirst for attention.
“Ant said to me one time, ‘Maybe I’m the right play,’” – Chris Finch
Edwards wrestles with his instinctive impulse to lead. Yet at the same time, he knows when it’s most imperative to defer to his teammates.
Former Franklin Co. Chris Hines explained Edwards’ disposition further, comparing him to a naughty child who eats dessert after being told not to.
“He’s the kid that you tell him not to eat chocolate and he’s got chocolate on his face,” – Chris Hines
Hines was dogged on this point, deeply illustrating the question by painting a picture of Edwards’ occasional inability to take feedback.
“And you’re like, ‘Hey dude, did you just eat the chocolate?’ He’s like, ‘No.’ We just told you dude, don’t eat the chocolate! So that’s him,” – Chris Hines
The nuance of Edwards’ character is only heighted with comparisons to basketball legends. Hines highlighted that every legend has had that key player who hit clutch shots for them over the course of their career.
“He had [John] Paxson. [LeBron James] had Boobie Gibson at times. Guys who would really make these shots, timely shots,” – Chris Hines
This highlights a crucial aspect of team dynamics that Edwards is learning: even the greatest players rely on their teammates in high-pressure moments. This support from his coaches has been fundamental to his development. At the same time, support from his compatriots is stoking his evolution as a player.
Mike Conley spoke about how important it is for Edwards to maintain an attacking mindset while being aware of opportunities to pass when necessary.
“So it’s just about getting him to understand, stay in an attacking mode, be aggressive all the time, but while you’re doing that, can you process it? Can you pick it up when you see somebody last minute come over to help?” – Mike Conley
So Edwards is certainly crossing a transformational stage in his personal career. Don’t be surprised by Chris’ deep conviction that all growth comes from the dual forces of experience and learning from failure. His success at the Olympics last summer, where he contributed significantly to winning a gold medal under coach Steve Kerr’s leadership, has catalyzed positive changes in his game.
His teammates know that this experience has increased his confidence. They point to how it has tempered his own sense of what it takes to win at the higher levels. He really learns the most important lessons from these experiences. They assist him in honing his craft and in-game decision-making as a player.
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