Anthony Edwards is having a costly month, having been fined a total of $60,000 in recent weeks. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ standout player was penalized $25,000 on Monday for using profanity during a post-game interview following the team’s 107-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors last Friday. This fine comes on the heels of an earlier $35,000 penalty levied after Edwards made an inappropriate gesture towards a fan during a game against the Sacramento Kings.
During the interview, Edwards expressed his excitement about the team’s defensive performance, praising his teammates, including Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, while also highlighting the surprising defensive efforts from Naz Reid. His enthusiastic language, however, drew the ire of the league and led to the latest fine.
Despite these setbacks, Edwards is enjoying a breakout season, averaging a career-high 26.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and four assists per game. The 23-year-old player recently signed a substantial five-year, $204 million contract extension with the Timberwolves in July 2023. The team is currently on a positive trajectory, winning four of their last five games and holding a 12-11 record as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s important to recognize that these fines, while unfortunate for Edwards, are part of the league’s effort to uphold standards of conduct. Nevertheless, despite this monetary setback, Edwards’ impressive performance on the court and the Timberwolves’ recent success paint a hopeful picture for the future as they continue to build team chemistry and showcase their skills.