Everybody wants to be Anthony Edwards, but nobody wants to get fined five times in a season. The Minnesota Timberwolves star is having a hard time controlling his emotions. But the league did not seem to give it a second thought and kept fines handy.
The latest addition to his fining tally came against the Memphis Grizzlies. The scenario broke while he was on the bench after being substituted out with 2:25 left in the game. Edwards was unable to keep his cool and flipped his middle finger towards an official as determined by the NBA. His agitation did not age well as he was imposed with a hefty fine of $50,000.
“I made a careless, young, dumb mistake, shooting birds. That has nothing to do with the refs at all. That’s all me mentally making a dumb mistake. I won’t do it again. I ain’t getting no more techs, I ain’t saying nothing else,” Edwards said on Monday.
Ant 💀
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It was announced by the league on Monday, just before the Timberwolves secured a 120-106 victory over the Washington Wizards. The NBA, in its press release, mentioned that ANT was fined for making obscene gestures toward a game official. This latest fine adds to a growing tally of penalties for Edwards this season, with his total now reaching $285,000. The league is clearly keeping a close eye on his behavior.
Anthony Edwards Is Only Adding Up To His Fines
Anthony Edwards has long been making headlines for all the wrong reasons this NBA season. Despite his impressive performance on the court for the Wolves, his antics off the court are concerning for his pocket. This was the fifth occasion he was fined by the league. After doing a little math, the fines rack up over $285,000 for the young star.
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The latest fine wasn’t the first time he’s crossed the line, either. He’s been fined for everything from using inappropriate language to criticizing referees postgame. And the NBA is taking notes of his acts and penalties escalating for each repeat offense. In December alone, he was fined $100,000 for using profanity during a live television interview. An additional $75,000 was spent publicly criticizing officials in a profane manner, and $25,000 was spent on similar comments made during a media interview.
Earlier in the season, he was also fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the court. The good news is that financially speaking, Edwards can handle these hits without breaking a sweat, thanks to his hefty $42.2 million contract. However, these fines are more than just dollar signs. They point to a need for him to grow up a bit on and off the court. If he really wants to take his place among the league’s elite, he’ll have to learn to channel that fiery competitive spirit in a constructive way.
