Mark Cuban says officials 'refuse to call' Anthony Edwards' FT violations

Mark Cuban, while no longer the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, remains an outspoken figure in professional sports. He recently criticized Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards for what he claims is an illegal free-throw routine that officials consistently fail to call.

During an appearance on the Road Trippin' podcast, Cuban brought up Edwards' free-throw technique unprompted, stating that the player steps over the free-throw line on every attempt. He recalled a specific game where Edwards made a crucial free throw after stepping over the line, which Cuban believes should have been an easy violation call for the referees.

Although Cuban praised Edwards as a great player and expressed admiration for his game, he reiterated that Edwards needs to stay behind the line during free throws. The official NBA rule states that a free-throw shooter cannot step over the plane of the free-throw line until the ball touches the basket ring, backboard, or the free throw ends.

Cuban's criticism is technically valid, as Edwards often steps forward after shooting but before the ball reaches the hoop. However, this is a common issue in the NBA, with many players routinely stepping into the paint on free throws without facing lane violation calls due to loosely enforced rules.

Edwards has been successful from the free-throw line, shooting 80.4% in his career and achieving a career-high 83.7% in the 2024-25 season. Given Cuban's prominent voice in the league, it remains to be seen whether the NBA will address his concerns and force Edwards to adjust his routine.