Minnesota Timberwolves superstar shooting guard Anthony Edwards struggled during Tuesday’s 114-88 Game 1 Western Conference finals road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Afterward, he delivered an unfiltered analysis of his muted offensive performance, garnering a hefty fine from the NBA’s league office.
Edwards finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three 3-pointers and four turnovers, shooting just 5-for-13 (38.5%). He managed only five second-half points as his squad was outscored 70-40 over the final two quarters. The lopsided half turned Minnesota’s four-point halftime edge into a 26-point defeat, leaving Edwards searching for answers.
Anthony Edwards Drops F-Bomb Following Game 1 Loss, Gets Assessed $50K Fine
During Tuesday’s postgame interview alongside his co-star Julius Randle, Edwards reacted to the Game 1 box score, profanely taking exception to his low-volume field-goal attempts.
“I definitely gotta shoot more. I only took 13 f**king shots,” Edwards said. “But I’ll say probably just get off the ball a little more. Play without the ball. I think that would be the answer because playing on the ball, they’re just gonna double and then sit in the gaps all day. So, I’ve got to go watch some film and pick it apart. We’ll figure it out.”
NBA fines Anthony Edwards $50K for using profane language during postgame media interview.pic.twitter.com/XY3Ykb5sQ3
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA)
On Wednesday, the NBA announced that Edwards was fined $50,000 for “using profane language during a media interview,” adding to his ever-growing list of penalties.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/rmkkasciGX
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR)
Edwards Continues Racking Up Fines From NBA
Edwards’ latest fine marks his second of the playoffs. He was previously slapped with a $50,000 penalty for “directing inappropriate language and making an obscene gesture toward a fan.”
That incident occurred during Game 1 of Minnesota’s five-game first-round series victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2020 No. 1 pick engaged in trash-talking at the scorer’s table with a courtside Lakers fan. Their viral back-and-forth culminated with Edwards remarking about his genitals being larger than the fan’s.
Edwards is reportedly up to $420,000 in fines for the season, with many being a result of him using explicit language during media interactions. He has also been penalized for flipping off and criticizing referees.
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Given his repeated offenses, Edwards appears unconcerned about his loss of income. The 23-year-old is in Year 1 of a five-year, $244.62 million designated rookie max contract extension, with an average annual salary of $48.92 million. Meanwhile, he appears in store for more max deals down the line, likely making a $50,000 fine a drop in the bucket for him.
Edwards will seek to bounce back from his forgettable Game 1 showing during Thursday’s Game 2 clash at Paycom Center. Across 11 postseason outings, he is averaging 25.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks and 3.5 3-pointers per game, shooting 44.2%.