Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves has once again found himself on the NBA’s radar for all the wrong reasons. The high-scoring guard was hit with a fresh $50,000 fine after making an obscene gesture during Saturday’s 127-125 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
On Monday, the league announced the punishment a few hours before Edwards exploded for 41 points in Minnesota’s 120-106 victory over the Washington Wizards. It came after the 23-year-old was caught on camera with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter of Saturday’s defeat, flipping a gesture he now admits had nothing to do with the officiating.
“I made a careless, young, dumb mistake, shooting birds,” Edwards said, sounding remorseful. “That’s all me mentally making a dumb mistake. I won’t do it again.”
Edwards was on the bench at the time—he had been subbed out about a minute earlier—and picked up his ninth technical foul of the year, leading the league in that category. It’s an unwelcome distinction for a two-time All-Star who entered his fifth season seeking to mature on and off the court.
“I ain’t getting no more techs, I ain’t saying nothing else,” he vowed, flashing a grin.
Techs and Fines Are Racking Up
That promise might be easier said than done. Edwards was whistled for 15 technical fouls last season, most coming before the All-Star break. This year, he’s already run afoul of the NBA’s code of conduct multiple times, most frequently for profanity-laced tirades that cost him big in the wallet.
Since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, the talented guard’s fines have increased alarmingly. The bulk of these penalties came in December when he racked up three separate hits for his outbursts during interviews and complaints about officiating. In November, he was also charged for another on-court incident.
So far, the league office has shown little patience for Edwards’ behavior, emphasizing its stance by consistently cracking down with monetary sanctions.
“I gotta be better,” Edwards has admitted on more than one occasion. “I know it.”
What’s Next for Anthony Edwards?
While Edwards insists he’s learned from his mistakes, only time will tell if he can keep his promise to stop talking himself into technical fouls. Hovering in a tight Western Conference race, the Timberwolves need Edwards focused on basketball rather than the NBA’s disciplinary ledger.
As for how much his season-long fines have ballooned to, let’s say it’s more than most people earn in several years.
With each new misstep, that figure climbs, and Edwards’ wallet gets lighter. If he wants to keep his bank account intact, curbing the trash talk and gestures might be his best bet.
