Anthony Edwards opens his checkbook again.
THE The NBA announced Sunday that he fined the Timberwolves All-Star $100,000 for “using foul language during a live television interview.” According to the league’s statement, the NBA reached the six-figure fine amount “based in part on Edwards’ habit of using foul language during media interviews.”
The interview that resulted in Sunday’s fine took place after Minnesota’s 113-112 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday. In the game, Edwards capped a Minnesota rally from a 106-90 deficit with a go-ahead 3-pointer off a pass from Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 23 seconds remaining, which was the game-winner.
After the game, Edwards was unfiltered in his language during an exuberant postgame interview on live television.
“I gotta go get him, dammit,” Edwards said. “Nickeil found me. He cut me off. I’m like, damn, I’m going for the win. Like Gilbert Arenas said, ‘I’m not doing overtime.’ So fuck it.”
This will do it. Edwards could have passed with the pair of S-bombs. But the F-bomb wasn’t going to go unnoticed by the NBA, especially given Edwards’ history.
As the NBA release notes, this isn’t Edwards’ first foray into spicy postgame language. THE the league has already fined Edwards in December for dropping two F-bombs during a postgame interview after a win against the Warriors.
“Naz (Reid) and Julius (Randle) really play defense,” Edwards told reporters on Dec. 6. “I’ve never seen them play defense before. So it’s really amazing. And he’s here, put the camera on him to protect him.
This interview cost Edwards $25,000.
Edwards was also fined $35,000 in November for cheating on a Kings fan in Sacramento:
Just a few days ago, he was fined $75,000 for calling officials “fucking terrible” after a Dec. 21 loss to the Warriors.
With Sunday’s fine, Edwards’ total for the 2024-25 season now stands at $235,000. And it’s just this season. Edwards was fined in past seasons for language and criticism of officials. And the NBA has made it clear that he is subject to escalating penalties as a repeat offender.
Edwards is owed $42.2 million this season as part of his five-year, $244.6 million rookie contract extension. It’s clear he doesn’t mind putting aside part of his salary to speak his mind.
