SAN FRANCISCO – If shooting is an art form, then Chris Hines is a gilded frame sculptor. A basketball craftsman. A manager of strokes.

As an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he watches his latest masterpiece from the sidelines: Anthony Edwards' shot.

“Now this is a crazy thing and it sucks for me,” Hines said, “I know when it’s not going in. So I watch from the bench and say, 'Damn!' as soon as it leaves his hands.”

His student doesn't have such problems.

“I think I can do it every time. I’m not going to lie,” Edwards said, flashing his lemonade promotional smile from the visitors’ locker room at Chase Center on Sunday.

Embedded within the swagger is evidence of his sophistication. To be clear, Edwards can sense when his form goes awry and failure is probably going. But he's gotten his mechanics to some extent where he doesn't feel it as often.

“Most of the time,” he said, “when it leaves my hand, I'm like, 'Damn, that felt good.' Because I worked on it, man. I'm not even funny. I've been working on my treyball so much. … I’m happy where it’s at.”

Behind all his flair, Edwards' hard work is visible in his form. While his appeal suggests it's easy to become a superstar, his vastly improved shooting underscores an insane work ethic.

This art has functionality. Edwards left the Bay Area this week – after splitting a two-game series with the Golden State Warriors – who made the most 3-pointers in the NBA with 103, and his 241 attempts put him one behind Jayson Tatum's the Boston Celtics 3 seconds, taken on Tuesday morning. A little over a quarter of the way through the season, Edwards has been one of the league's best 3-point shooters, a strong counterpoint to his reputation for attacking the rim.

But don't miss the aesthetic of his polished sweater. Appreciate the artistry of Edwards and the engineering of Hines.

Maybe it'll get lost because of Edwards' highlight dunks and viral quotes. But he came up with a pretty picturesque shot.

“Hell yeah,” Edwards said. “Super pretty. Kudos to C. Hines.”

Third player in NBA history to make 100 three-pointers in the primary 23 games.

particularly. pic.twitter.com/S9JCNRq95s

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 9, 2024

The feathers hidden in his legs are already seductive. He just floats, or so it looks like time slows down when he's within the air. Edwards rising to leap looks like something cool is about to unfold. He has already developed a classically attractive midrange.

The mechanics of his sweater have develop into much cleaner. It's an efficient transition from recording to publishing. Smooth. Effortless. As against recording typical jumpers reaching the height of their jump before unfurling anything chunky. Edwards has worked on his form until it becomes a fluid motion, consistently repeated and capped by a portrait-worthy follow-up and snap of the web.

Ant-Man created one other path to awe. One of the league's most compelling players, adding to a ton of brilliance that's already brimming with personality.

“It’s not the prettiest,” he explained, nodding to Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. “They have some nice sweaters. I don't try to have the prettiest sweater. I just want it to come in. Yes, it looks good. But as long as it goes in, it looks better.”

However, beauty comes at a price. For Edwards, it was paid for through a process that was as methodical because it was relentless.

Hines and Edwards put it together as a long-term project. Like so many things about Edwards, his ability to perform was obvious. The talent drips from him like Jheri curl juice. The last 4 years have been dedicated to harnessing his globe-trotting abilities, and the following decade will proceed to accomplish that.

Edwards initially resisted. Some days he despised Hines, the tormenting teacher.

“He hated me,” Hines said with a proud smile. “From the beginning. He says, 'C. Hines, you're not going to change my game.' I’m not trying to change your game. Let me fine-tune it and everything will be fine.”

Hines gained Edwards' trust by not altering the canvas but appreciating it. Edwards often heard what he couldn't do, how he needed to vary – people were continuously telling him how he should play his game. Hines as a substitute confirmed that Edwards just needed refinement, not rebuilding. They worked on the structure and adjusted his shot to the play that made him special.

Hines began by cleansing up Edwards' strengths. His grip. His graduation packages. His footwork. His touch on the sting. These were fundamental elements to construct on.

“He already had a pretty good, solid, strong shot,” Hines said. “We just wanted to tighten up everything around his shot. Little things. …How does it get into the bag? Is it clean? How do you find the shoelaces without looking for them? Little things like that. It was really fun to watch the process of tightening all that up.”

The recordings are too incessant to be counted, the hours are too blurry to be recorded. Shooting is a careful craft. It is feeling and form. Technical and artistic. It stays true to the distinctiveness of the shooter while respecting universal laws.

Hines went to work making Edwards' shooting move easier. First they’d to interrupt his habit of dropping the ball too low. Now his process begins by sheer muscle memory with the ball near his navel.

Then they modified his high release. Edwards had a wide selection of motion and lifted the ball from his stride to behind his head, providing ample opportunity to disrupt the end result. The longer the form, the harder it’s to breed.

By raising the start line and moving the discharge point forward, his movement became more efficient.

Another thing Hines fixed: Edwards' habit of bringing the ball near his body, which limited his range of motion. Hines taught him to maintain his elbows in an L shape as a substitute of a V shape in order to not lose strength and flow. Hines has ingrained in Edwards the necessity to hold his elbow above his eyebrows at the extent of his character.

Follow-up was one other necessary component. Edwards now has a noticeable snap of his wrist, as if he's dipping his hand into the rim. It gives his ball an emphatic spin that squirts into the web.

“We’re in the gym four or five times a day just shooting,” Edwards said. “Just shoot. I just shoot. So I tried – tried to perfect it. Because when I came into the league, the main thing was, “He can get downhill, but he can't shoot.” He can't shoot. He can't shoot.' That's why I've been trying to remove that from my name for a long time. It’s still a bit cutting edge, but I feel like I’m trending in the right direction.”

Last month, Edwards sent a voice message to Curry attempting to glean some off-the-cuff knowledge from his Team USA buddy. This got here after a summer of picking the brain of Durant, his favorite player.

The threat of Edwards' aggressive attacks, which led to a series of highlights, caused defenders to tug him back and permit the jumper to forestall the poster. His emergence as an MVP candidate increased the variety of double teams he faces.

Therefore, his next level of growth is to be an off-ball threat. The rhythm of dribbling right into a shot is totally different without the stone. Maintaining the identical form while catching and shooting requires repetition and precision practice.

Edwards said he desired to shoot well enough for long enough in order that his pump fakes would get defenders within the air and open up lanes for his drives.

“In order for me to score without the ball,” Edwards said, “I have to be able to shoot. Do you know what I'm saying? Make them respect it. … Just being willing to shoot for the catch makes you another threat on offense. Because guys have to respect it now because I want to catch and shoot. So if you throw me off track now, I’ll end up where I really want to go, which is downhill.”

This requires hundreds of recordings, hours upon hours, over years. Hines didn't need to rush the method. He was conscious of not skipping any steps and mastering one skill before moving on to the following.

The pursuit of greatness is at odds with haste. A masterpiece transcends time by being committed to quality.

A player has to want that. I actually need it. For this level of improvement, the trouble is unavoidable. How much work Edwards puts in becomes clear as he drives up. Floating within the air. Fluid mechanics. Nice rotation. Silky splash. His weakness has develop into a murals. You can tell by the way it was framed.

The athlete

Bruins

After 19 years within the Bruins broadcast booth, Jack Edwards officially stepped down from the microphone on Thursday night.

Game 6 between Boston and Toronto marked the ultimate game of Edwards' profession because the Bruins' play-by-play broadcaster for NESN – the Bruins were unable to send him off with a win after trailing by 1 at Scotiabank Arena :2 had lost.

Although the Bruins and Maple Leafs will face off in Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday night, ABC has exclusive broadcast rights to the decisive battle – NESN's broadcast of the 2023-24 season ends Thursday.

With the ultimate seconds ticking down in Toronto, Edwards addressed the Bruins fans for the ultimate time from the locker room.

“The last 19 years of witnessing and describing some of the greatest moments in the New England sports pantheon have been the thrill of my life,” Edwards said. “I would like to thank everyone at NESN, especially our production team. Brian Zechello, Rose Mirakian-Wheeler, Patrick White and all the photographers Bobby Swan represented on this trip.

“Above all, I would like to thank my broadcast partner Andy Brickley. You are the brother I never had until I started working with you. And it has been a fun ride for 19 years. And this is my farewell.”

Brickley, who served as Edwards' primary color analyst throughout his tenure at NESN, shook his hand firmly before praising his broadcast partner.

“I had four brothers, but now I have five. “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you, Jack,” said Brickley. “Great call again tonight, great finish. For you personally, it would have been a storybook experience if they had won Game 5 at home and gone out that way. And given the state of this series, it might have been even more magical if we could broadcast Game 7.”

Edwards announced his retirement at the tip of the Bruins' regular season, indicating that this final playoff run could be his final appearance within the locker room. Edwards, whose passionate and colourful commentary resonated with Bruins fans (and infrequently drew the ire of opponents), began calling games for NESN in 2005.

In recent seasons, questions have arisen about Edwards and his speech issues, together with his normally rapid speech hampered at times.

In a conversation with Chad Finn earlier this season, Edwards said he received no clarity from doctors concerning the reason behind his slowed speech.

“I didn’t have an accident,” Edwards told Finn. “I don’t have cancer. I don't have dementia. I didn't have a stroke. All of this was made by measure. General Neurology confirmed.

“They've done tests that make it seem like I'm living through some kind of science fiction scene, but that's really true. The images in my brain reveal literally nothing. That’s my joke with them.”

Edwards noted within the press release announcing his retirement last month that he was “no longer able to meet the standards that I have set for myself, the fans, the players, the Bruins organization and NESN.” to honor the very best all of them deserve.”

A decisive win by Boston in Games 5 or 6 would have been a way more fitting end to Edwards' lengthy tenure overseeing the Bruins' games. But despite Thursday's disappointing result, Edwards ended the printed with a final farewell and salute to the Bruins.

“See you all,” Edwards remarked. “Long live the Boston Bruins.”

PHOENIX – Fresh off arguably a very powerful performance of his young profession, Anthony Edwards sat before the world wearing a white tank top and an all-black, fitted Atlanta Braves cap that sat loosely and hovered just above his wispy hairline – and that's what he made looks in Outkasts “Player's Ball” video looks more like an additional than the long run face of the NBA.

Edwards is who he’s. Dumb. Adorable. Intelligent. Country. He wears all of it, loud and proud. He can be a competitor. A trash talker. He wears all of these items just as loudly, just as proudly.

If you add all of it up, you might have one star. When you add all of those things together and post a 40-point performance in a playoff-clinching 122-116 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, you begin to emerge as a superstar.

Still, for one reason or one other, Edwards is afraid to go there. As honest, daring and self-confident as he could also be, there’s a certain shyness within the 22-year-old in terms of talking about his position in the game's most prestigious club.

A yr ago, before a first-round loss to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets, Edwards said he couldn't call himself a young star until he “wins in the playoffs.”

A yr later he did. In addition to winning the playoffs, Edwards was the alpha in a series that featured players like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, his all-time favorite player. Edwards led his organization to a height it hadn't seen in 20 years within the second round of the NBA playoffs. He did it with breathtaking dunks. He did it with a sweet shot punch. He did it with an arm-gnawing defense. He did it with leadership. He did it with WWE “Suck It!” extracurricular activities. He did it while listening to the player he'd looked as much as since he was five years old.

These are the things that make stars. This is what fame looks like.

“No, not yet, man,” Edwards said Sunday after reaching the benchmark he set for himself a yr ago. “Not yet.”

Edwards, without knowing it, has lost the privilege of deciding what he’s and isn't on this league.

If you rating 40 points in a decisive series win – on the road – you're a star. If you played 79 games within the regular season and were the very best player on a team that was only one game shy of your conference's best record, you're a star. If, on the age of twenty-two, you’re certainly one of twelve players chosen to represent your country on the Olympics, you’re a star. If you make everyone laugh each time you stand in front of a microphone and order McDonald's on Uber Eats right after a game like he did in Detroit last season, you're a star.

“He’s the face of the league,” said teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, sitting next to Edwards as his reserved side took center stage as he discussed his status within the NBA. “He hates it when I say it, but it’s true. Like I said, “The future is so bright, I have to put the sunglasses on.” ”

Normal players don't decide to dominate once they have the possibility to finally eliminate their opponent. You don't have that ability. The Stars shoot 11 of 15 from the sector and rating 31 points within the second half when their team trails at halftime, as Edwards did Sunday. Towards the top of the fourth quarter, the Stars gathered the last of their energy to throw out a “Night, night!” Dunk – as he did with just over two minutes left in the sport, when he crossed Bradley Beal on the wing, took a collected dribble, launched from outside the sector and pushed his childhood hero out of the best way while punishing the rim as if he would have met his sister.

Stars get caught up in all of the chaos against their other star teammate once they do something flawed, like Edwards did when Towns committed one other unnecessary foul and the sport was within the balance.

Edwards can now not escape from it. No matter how hard he tries. If he doesn't need to be a star, then stop acting like one.

“He rose to the occasion,” Wolves forward Kyle Anderson said.

Stars also make their teammates higher. That's the meaning of a star. An individual's gravity gives greater intending to the existence of others.

Edwards dismantled the Suns defense as a playmaker. The 40 points will grab the headlines, but he also had six assists with just two turnovers in 41 minutes of play. He must have had greater than 10 assists, however the Wolves couldn't buy a basket in the primary 24 minutes of the sport.

There were signs of this throughout the season, however it was on this series that Edwards blossomed as a creator for others. There were times early in his profession when it felt like he died because he needed to. He had nowhere else to go.

As the season went on and that playoff series got here to an in depth, Edwards welcomed blitzes so he could gain benefits to make the pass to an open man so he could get his teammates involved within the flow of the sport, in order that was the case for the Timberwolves team could potentially do something that just one other team has done within the franchise's 35-year history.

But yeah, Edwards isn't a star.

“He's a good person,” said Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori, who filled in for coach Chris Finch after he suffered a serious leg injury following a collision on the sideline within the fourth quarter. “And what I mean by that is that they trust him. He has some self-humor. You've seen all of his interviews. He is the first to congratulate and give all his glory to his teammates. They all love him.

“When he plays, makes the right play and they know he takes care of not only himself but the team, he’s done a good job in that regard.”

Edwards can proceed to run from the label all he wants, but when he doesn't need to embrace it for fear of satisfaction, it’ll never go away. His considering is correct. His intentions are good. But it's inconceivable for anyone with two eyes and a pinch of sense to not see a star when they appear at Edwards.

From this point on, there is no such thing as a point in asking Edwards about it. He spoke – along with his game and his personality. He never has to say it out loud. We will all proceed to say it for him.

“He’s the player I like watching the most,” Durant said of his star student after Sunday’s game. “He’s just grown so much since he came into the league. At 22, his love for the game shines so clearly. That's one of the reasons I like him the most because he just loves basketball and is grateful to be in this position.

“He will be someone I will follow for the rest of his career.”

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