Anthony Edwards on NBA refs: 'The stuff that they tell us, it's crazy' / News - Basketnews.com

Edwards was shocked at one of the things a referee told him during the game against the Lakers on Sunday. He said it was very tough for the Timberwolves to receive significantly less foul calls, and it got to the players' psyche.

Credit: AP Photo/Eric Thayer - Scanpix Credit AP Photo/Eric Thayer - Scanpix

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night. After the game, Minnesota's superstar Anthony Edwards took a jab at the game's referees.

Usually attempting more than 23 a game, the Timberwolves shot 13 free throws in the matchup, while LA's Anthony Davis shot 13 free throws by himself with the Lakers combining for 29 attempts.

"It's tough every night, you know, when we don't get to the free-throw line as much as the other team. When one player shoots more free throws than your entire team, it's tough," Edwards said. "It's tough to compete. In the fourth quarter, when you miss a shot and they go to the free-throw line every time down the floor... It's tough, man. I tip my hat to my teammates, my coaches, we just have to go out there and fight every night."

Asked how the lack of foul calls on their side and an abundance of them on the other side affects the players, Edwards was honest - it does damage to the players' minds both offensively and defensively.

"It's hard not to [get down]. For any player, 'cause you want to compete. If every time they get the ball and we so-called foul them and they get to the free-throw line, it's tough. I don't know how to explain it, man. We want to compete out there and play without the foul calls, for sure," he said.

"It gets in your mind on offense. Throughout the whole game, the stuff that they tell us - the reason why it is a foul and why it's not a foul - it's crazy to us, for sure," Edwards proclaimed.

The 22-year-old star then went on to describe one episode that happened during the game.

"I think I asked one of the refs today. 'I'm driving the ball and he smacks my arm, I know you heard it, is it not a foul?' And he told me, 'No'. I said, 'So what you calling for them?' And I just let the conversation [go] on. Great game, great refs tonight, see you out there," Edwards concluded.

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