Anthony Edwards reveals NBA playoff lesson inspired by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

The Minnesota Timberwolves aim to reach the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. They hold a 3–1 lead over the Golden State Warriors and could secure their spot this Wednesday. Anthony Edwards has been crucial in this run, and he recently revealed advice he received involving Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Edwards has emerged in recent years as one of the NBA’s top talents, known for his skill and winning mentality. However, in moments when things haven’t gone his way, it has been his teammates who stepped up to help carry the load.

“My trainer (Chris) Hines always tells me, ‘Michael Jordan had Steve Kerr,’” said the Ant-Man in a recent interview with ESPN. “He always tells me stuff like that. So, it’s just being able to trust my teammates.”

This is a reference to Steve Kerr’s winning shot in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals, when the Bulls beat the Utah Jazz 90–86 to claim their fifth championship. Jordan was the undisputed star of that team, but in key moments, he also relied on his teammates to achieve success.

“My first couple of times in the playoffs down the stretch, I always just wanted to win the game myself,” admitted Anthony. “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.”

Also speaking with ESPN, Edwards’ trainer Chris Hines elaborated on the lessons he shares with the young Minnesota guard to prepare him for the major challenges ahead. “Jordan had Steve Kerr. He had (John) Paxson,” Hines recalled. “LeBron (James) had Boobie Gibson at times. Guys who would really make these shots, timely shots.”

The trainer explained how understanding the past and the history of basketball can help Anthony elevate his game. “If he doesn’t study that type of stuff, then he’s going to keep bumping his head against a brick wall,” Hines said. “So it’s been a good transition for him to see it… He’s getting a really good understanding of the history of the game and how it’s repeating itself.”

The Timberwolves’ path through this year’s NBA Playoffs shows that Edwards has taken these lessons to heart. Perhaps one of the clearest examples came in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers. There, the guard didn’t have one of his best nights, scoring only 15 points and going 0-for-11 from three-point range.

He recognized that his role needed to shift in that game, and he delivered 8 assists, capitalizing, for example, on an inspired performance from Rudy Gobert. With Ant showing that kind of awareness and team-first mentality, Minnesota could go a long way this year.