Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $50K for “making obscene gestures toward a game official” late in the third quarter of Saturday’s two-point loss to Memphis, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
As Field Level Media notes, this is already the fifth time Edwards has been fined this season. He was docked another time for an obscene gesture, plus hit with three different fines for profanity. The former No. 1 overall pick has now been fined a total of $285K.
Edwards signed a maximum-salary rookie scale extension in 2023 featuring Rose Rule language, and after making the All-NBA Second Team in 2023/24, he’s earning 30 percent of the ’24/25 salary cap instead of 25 percent. That works out to $42,176,400 this season — $285K isn’t even one percent of that figure, so it’s still a relatively modest total compared to Edwards’ salary.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter links), Edwards’ latest fine was a result of a gesture he made after receiving a technical foul — which he believed was unwarranted — for celebrating an alley-oop dunk by Rudy Gobert while on the bench. Veteran forward Joe Ingles tried to calm him down, but didn’t in time, Krawczynski adds.
The broadcast video (YouTube link) of the technical itself certainly doesn’t show much, with Edwards simply appearing to flex on the sideline. The video isn’t on Edwards the whole time, to be fair, but what it does show is innocuous.
Saturday’s loss dropped Minnesota’s record to 20-18. The Wolves are currently the No. 8 seed in the jam-packed Western Conference playoff race — only three games separate the No. 5 seed (Dallas, which is 22-17) from the No. 12 (San Antonio, 18-19).
Equivalent to 82 cents for the rest of us
Cry about it
Assuming he didn’t do/say something beyond what was on video, that tech is up there in the Joey Crawford hall of fame.
He flexed after an oop, how much are they going to find the ref. That’s worse Duncan getting T’d up for laughing on the bench.
NBA officials are worst in the world, nothing new. Having said that, Edwards isn’t what I thought he was or was going to be. After watching the starting 5 series, I went off Edwards big time. Dude isn’t working like other guys off the court. Not looking after his body off the court like others (Dietitian, chef). And has the mental capacity of a twelve year old. Guys not an adult between the ears yet.
Ey yo leave my lil homie alone!
Not knowing how taxes and agent fees work is hilarious. Math not mathing.
These fines in the NBA are nothing…
“Oh no I have to pay to use a gesture…”
Kids do that with their entire allowances in 2k or fortnite or many other games…
What makes the NBA think that this pittance of a fine is going to change the way the players do anything?
The hope that having their name in the media because they broke a rule will change the way they conduct themselves?
If it doesn’t effect winning and certainly doesn’t effect how they live their lives… It won’t change a thing…
Just suspend him for a game. what message are these fines sending anybody? Or correct the ref behavior. Seems like a waste of my time I need better things to comment on.