The league announced this week that Anthony Edwards has been fined with $25,000 for using “profane language” during a postgame interview on December 6 following Minnesota’s 107-90 victory against Golden State. The young star ended that game with impressive 30 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
After their win, the All-Star was asked about the Wolves’ defense, holding the Warriors under 100 points. This was the moment in which the 23-year-old used poor language to describe the defensive pressure that his teammates used throughout the game, mostly over excited about their performance.
“Everyone is guarding at a high level, but Jaden [McDaniels] and Rudy [Gobert] are being the anchors we need them to be,” Edwards expressed. “I think that’s the main thing. Naz [Reid] and Julius [Randle] are f—ing playing defense. I’ve never seen them play defense before. So that’s f—ing incredible. And he’s right here, put the camera on him. Guarding his ass off.”
Anthony Edwards has been fined $25K for using profane language during this media interview, per @NBAPR.
— Mave Sports Network (@mave_sports007) December 9, 2024
This is not the first time Ant has been too outspoken this season, as his own coach had to defend him recently after he called out his own teammates after a loss. “[Edwards] put it out there because he was going to challenge his teammates,” Chris Finch explained last week. “And with Anthony, everybody who knows him, certainly his teammates, they know that it comes from a good place.”
“He’s got a great heart, he cheers hard for his teammates’ success, he wants to win, he’s about the right things,” the tactician added. “Even when he doesn’t know or have all the answers himself or makes mistakes, he’s held accountable, he’s allowed to be coached, and so he’s built up great credit with his teammates.”
Finch’s handling of this situation is nothing short of genius, as he dismantled a ticking-time bomb and turned it into an example of leadership. Rather than pointing fingers around his locker room, he used the situation to his advantage.
“Anthony’s leadership, his voice, his emergence, his maturity—the conversations that we’ve had, the recognition about what is and what is not right with our team—is the best thing about it. That’s what you want from your young star player,” the Wolves coach assured.
After the game, a Warriors rival said the league “is in great hands for the next 15 years” with Edwards representing NBA basketball
One of the biggest questions around the league is who will become the next face of the NBA. With so many veterans about to end their careers in the coming years, an entire generation of superstars will retire. According to Stephen Curry though, he knows exactly who will run things after they are gone.
After losing to the Timberwolves last week, the all-time three-point leader assured that Anthony Edwards is here to dominate for years to come. “He’s tough, he can do anything on the court,” he said about his Paris-Olympic teammate. “He’s shooting the ball at a high level now, he’s got that dog in him.”
Steph then added: “I got to feel that energy all summer and what he brought to Team USA. He talks trash, he’s in every moment, and the league is in great hands for the next 15 years with him just being who he is.”
If Ant wants to become the next face of the league, he surely will have to take better care of his words and not get fined for cursing. An example of a player who has the potential of representing NBA basketball due to his talents, but has missed out on that opportunity due to his off-court antics is Ja Morant.
