ANTHONY EDWARDS … 16 technicals, so far … (Wikipedia).
The outstanding player in the NBA this past week was Anthony Edwards, a guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He was outstanding, but not in the way you’d want your kid to stand out. Edwards was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Saturday and suspended for a game for his behavior during a game against the Lakers.
Now, that’s impressive. Coach Chris Finch is tolerant. “He knows he has to get better. Hopefully, it’s gotten to the point where it has boiled over and he learns his lesson going forward.”
You know, Chris, it looks like Tony has already mastered the art of boiling over.
An all-star shooting guard (averaging 27.6 points a game), Edwards is a key part of a team that’s scrambling to get a spot in the playoffs at 33-29. Benching him is just out of the question.
On the other hand … maybe he can’t score many points when suspended for misbehavior or standing around while the other team shoots numerous free throws on technicals in close games.
When the players on championship teams speak of how they reached the top, the answer often given is “culture.” They say, “we have a culture of winning, everyone pulling together.”
If a 23-year-old man can’t stop acting like a kid – and placing his emotions above the team’s welfare – despite making an average of almost $49 million a year, maybe it’s not just Edwards who needs to learn a lesson.
