Anthony Edwards has arguably been the most exciting player to watch in the league, with his fearless mentality and knack for creating highlight reels.
One of the latest examples of this is when he hit a game-sealing 3-pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers , then afterward passionately shouted toward his head coach, Chris Finch, who reportedly told him to pass the ball following a missed jumper a couple of plays earlier. The moment went instantly viral and highlighted just how much the Minnesota Timberwolves star relishes high-pressure moments .
However, many fans still viewed the moment as Ant being anything but a team player. Though he later made it clear that emotions simply got the better of him, it was still a moment that raised eyebrows.
Former NBA champion Bruce Bowen chimed in on the discussion, saying that Ant's fiery confidence is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, he believes it is a sign that Edwards is evolving into the type of superstar capable of dominating games, paving the way for him to learn a few lessons from the legendary Michael Jordan.
Speaking on The Right Times podcast, Bowen acknowledged that Edwards' reaction to Finch telling him to pass the ball showed the competitive edge that defined the elite players before him. But he also believes there is a balance that every superstar eventually needs to learn.
"What stands out about Anthony Edwards right now is that whole confrontation with the coach. People made more of it than they should have, but there are many times coaches are going to say pass, hit the open man. But to see his fire like, 'No, I got this. This is what I do.' Yes, it is," he said .
"But when you have someone open, it's that moment with Michael Jordan and Pax and when Phil Jackson says, 'Michael, who's open?' And he says, 'Pax is open.' Then get him the ball. And next thing you know in L.A., Michael does it once. Michael does it a couple of times," continued Bowen.
The lesson Bowen is referring to is when Jordan famously leaned into his teammates when defenses collapsed around him during clutch moments — mostly highlighted during Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals when MJ willingly passed the ball as the time wound down, which eventually led to John Paxson hitting a 3-pointer that sealed the 99-98 win and the Chicago Bulls ' first three-peat.
Those plays became part of MJ and the Bulls' lore during their historic runs in the 90s. Jordan, who was already regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, remained the focal point of the offense. Still, his willingness to trust teammates such as Paxson and, later, Steve Kerr helped cement Chicago's dynasty.
Bowens further detailed that Ant is in the early stages of that development, where opponents already fear him with the ball, and that he needs to learn to trust his teammates to cement himself as one of the greats like MJ fully.
"But it's what Michael created first and foremost that we understand what he's able to do before he starts getting it to the open guys," explained Bowen.
"So I think this is what's scary about Anthony Edwards is what he's doing, taking down everybody. Now you got people that you've had on the hit list, so to speak. Now they're giving you compliments like that. That's scary," he added.
While there is still much development ahead for the 24-year-old Edwards, he is already one of the league's best players. He's currently averaging a career-high 29.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists this season as the Timberwolves sit in third place in a loaded Western Conference with a 40-23 record.
Recent seasons have shown just how Ant has embraced being a leader for the Timberwolves. He has become a vocal captain for the team while continuing his rise as a superstar, highlighted by the team's conference finals appearance last season.
What makes his trajectory even more exciting is that Ant still has plenty of room to grow. If he continues to develop as a decision-maker while maintaining his aggressive scoring mentality, he could eventually reach the same level as the sport's defining legends.
Related: Anthony Edwards once dismissed Rudy Gobert's defense: "He don't put no fear in my heart"
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
