_(cropped)_(cropped).jpg) Edwards with theMinnesota Timberwolves in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 5 – Minnesota Timberwolves | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Shooting guard | ||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (2001-08-05)August 5, 2001 (age 24) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school |
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| College | Georgia (2019–2020) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2020: 1st round,1st overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2020–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2020–present | Minnesota Timberwolves | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Anthony DeVante Edwards (born August 5, 2001), nicknamed "Ant-Man" or simply "Ant",[1] is an American professionalbasketball player for theMinnesota Timberwolves of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). Ashooting guard, Edwards playedcollege basketball for theGeorgia Bulldogs and was selected with thefirst overall pick by the Timberwolves in the2020 NBA draft. He is a four-timeNBA All-Star, a two-timeAll-NBA Second Team selection, and won a gold medal on the2024 U.S. Olympic team.[2]
Edwards finished his high school career atHoly Spirit Preparatory School in his hometown ofAtlanta, Georgia, where he was rated a consensus five-starrecruit and one of the best players in the 2019 class by major recruiting services. As a senior, he earnedMcDonald's All-American andUSA Today All-USA first team honors. He committed to play college basketball for Georgia, becoming the highest-rated recruit to do so, and was namedSEC Freshman of the Year after his freshman season with the team.
Edwards spent his early life inOakland City, Atlanta, Georgia.[3] When he was three years old, he was given the nickname "Ant-Man" by his father. For much of his childhood, Edwards playedfootball in therunning back,quarterback, andcornerback positions.[4] He played youth football for the Atlanta Vikings and became one of the bestPop Warner running backs in the country by age 10.[4][5][6] Edwards switched his focus to basketball because he "thought it looked more fun" after watching his brothers play the sport. He often played basketball with his brothers at their grandmother's house. Entering ninth grade, he began training with Justin Holland, a formercollege basketball player forLiberty and an Atlanta-based basketball trainer.[4]
Due to his success with the Atlanta Xpress 15-underAmateur Athletic Union team, Edwards was considered a four-starrecruit byRivals in 2016.[7] He began playing high school basketball forTherrell High School in Atlanta as a member of the 2019 class.[8] In early January 2017, Edwards transferred toHoly Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta andreclassified to the 2020 class. He made the move in an effort to improve his academic performance, since Holy Spirit Preparatory had "small class sizes and support to help that."[9]
In March 2018, Edwards helped Holy Spirit Preparatory defeatThe Heritage School for theGeorgia Independent School Association (GISA) Class AAA state championship.[10] He reclassified back to the 2019 class in November 2018 after seeing academic improvement.[8][11] As a result, Edwards rose to become the number one recruit in the Top247 rankings by recruiting website247Sports.[12] In his senior season, his team finished as GISA Class AAA runners-up to The Heritage School, despite 27points from Edwards.[13] At the end of the season, he was averaging 29 points, ninerebounds, and twoassists per game.[14] Edwards garneredUSA Today All-USA first team recognition.[14][15] He played in theMcDonald's All-American Game andJordan Brand Classic in March and April 2019, respectively.[16][17]
By consensus among major recruiting services247Sports,ESPN, andRivals, Edwards was rated a five-star recruit, top-five player, and the topshooting guard in the 2019 class.[18][19][20] On February 11, 2019, he committed to play college basketball forGeorgia, becoming the program's best recruit in the modern recruiting era.[21][22] Edwards chose the Bulldogs over offers fromFlorida State,Kansas,Kentucky, andNorth Carolina.[8] He was drawn to Georgia because two of his favorite players,Dwyane Wade andVictor Oladipo, had been coached in college by head coachTom Crean.[23]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards SG | Atlanta, GA | Holy Spirit Prep (GA) | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Feb 11, 2019 | |
Recruit ratings:Rivals:  247Sports: ESPN: (96) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Rivals: 3 247Sports: 1 ESPN: 4 | ||||||
Sources:
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On November 5, 2019, Edwards made his debut for the Georgia Bulldogs, recording 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals in a 91–72 win overWestern Carolina. It was the most points by a Georgia freshman debutant sinceBasketball Hall of Fame inducteeDominique Wilkins in 1979.[24] On November 26, he scored a season-high 37 points, including 33 in the second half, and posted six rebounds, four steals, and threeblocks in a 93–85 loss to third-rankedMichigan State at theMaui Invitational. Edwards became the first Georgia freshman to score at least 37 points in a game sinceJacky Dorsey in 1975.[25] In his final game at the tournament, he led all scorers with 24 points and made the game-winning shot againstNCAA Division II teamChaminade.[26]
On February 1, 2020, Edwards recorded 29 points and 15 rebounds, both game-highs, in a 63–48 victory overTexas A&M.[27] In his next game, he led all scorers with 32 points in an 81–75 loss toFlorida.[28] On February 26, Edwards scored 36 points and collected seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, in a 94–90overtime defeat toSouth Carolina.[29] As a freshman, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.[30] Edwards was the top scorer on his team and among freshmen nationally. He earned second-team All-SEC andSEC Freshman of the Year honors.[31] Edwards collected SEC Freshman of the Week accolades four times during the season, the most in program history.[32] He was also one of five finalists for theJerry West Award, which recognizes the top collegiateshooting guard.[33]
On March 20, 2020, in the spring of his freshman year, Edwards declared for the2020 NBA draft as one of the most touted prospects in his class. He signed with anagent, forgoing his remaining college basketball eligibility.[34]
The2020 NBA draft was delayed by five months due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, theMinnesota Timberwolves selected Edwards as the No. 1 overall pick on draft night. On December 23, 2020, he made his NBA debut, putting up 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 25 minutes, in a 111–101 win against theDetroit Pistons.[35] On March 18, 2021, Edwards scored a then career-high 42 points, along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists, in a game against thePhoenix Suns, becoming the third-youngest player to score 40+ points in NBA history.[36] After the season, he finished second inRookie of the Year voting and was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team.[37][38]
On November 10, 2021, Edwards scored a then career-high 48 points on 7 three-pointers in a 123–110 loss to theGolden State Warriors.[39] On December 15, Edwards had 38 points and a franchise record 10 three-pointers in a 124–107 win over theDenver Nuggets. He became the youngest NBA player ever with 10 three-pointers in a game, breaking the previous record set in 2015 byKyrie Irving at age 22. Edwards also reached 2,000 career points in fewer games than any player in franchise history.[40] On January 25, 2022, in a 109–107 win over thePortland Trail Blazers, he became the first player in NBA history to record a stat line of at least 40 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals, and 5 three-pointers in a single game; he joinedCarmelo Anthony as the only players to score 40 points without an assist at 20 years old or younger.[41][42] On April 7, 2022, Edwards scored a then career-high 49 points in a 127–121 win over theSan Antonio Spurs.[43]
In his playoff debut on April 16, 2022, he logged 36 points and 6 assists in a 130–117 Game 1 win over theMemphis Grizzlies in the opening round of the2022 NBA playoffs.[44] Minnesota lost to Memphis despite Edwards's 30-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist, 2-steal and 2-block outing in the 114–106 close-out loss in Game 6.[45]
On January 21, 2023, Edwards scored a season-high 44 points, including a season-high 8 three-pointers, along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in a 113–104 win over theHouston Rockets.[46] On February 10, 2023, he was named anAll-Star for the first time in his career as a reserve. Edwards andDe'Aaron Fox were announced as injury replacements for injured starsStephen Curry andZion Williamson.[47] On April 9, in the final game of the2022–23 season, Edwards recorded 26 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 4 blocks to help lead the Timberwolves to a 113–108 win over theNew Orleans Pelicans, earning the eight seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament.[48]
In Game 2 of the Timberwolves' first-round playoff series against theDenver Nuggets, Edwards put up 41 points in a 122–113 loss. His 41 points also set a Timberwolves franchise record for the most points scored in a playoff game, surpassingSam Cassell's previous record of 40.[49] On April 21, in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, Edwards scored 36 points in a 120–111 loss. He joinedKobe Bryant with the second-most 30-point NBA playoff games before turning 22 years old.[50] In Game 4, Edwards had 34 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks and scored a crucial 3-pointer to lead the Timberwolves to a 114–108 overtime win.[51] In Game 5, the Timberwolves were eliminated from the playoffs by theeventual NBA champion Nuggets despite 29 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks by Edwards. With the Nuggets leading 112–109 in the final seconds of the game, Edwards missed a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.[52]
Edwards changed his jersey number from #1 to #5 before the 2023–24 season.[53] On November 13, 2023, he was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career after leading Minnesota to an undefeated week (4–0) with averages of 31.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals.[54] On January 27, 2024, Edwards recorded 32 points, 6 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists in a 113–112 loss against theSan Antonio Spurs.[55] On February 1, Edwards was named to his secondAll-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve.[56] On April 9, Edwards put up a then career-high 51 points in a 130–121 win over theWashington Wizards.[57] At the season's end, Edwards was named to theAll-NBA Second Team for the first time in his career.[58]
In Game 4 of thefirst round of the playoffs against Phoenix, Edwards scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half, along with nine rebounds and six assists in a 122–116 win to close out the series. It was the Timberwolves' first playoff series win in 20 years. He also surpassedKevin Garnett for the most 30-point playoff games in Timberwolves franchise history, with eight.[59][60] In Game 1 of theWestern Conference Semifinals, Edwards scored a then playoff career-high and franchise postseason-record 43 points in a 106–99 victory over the Nuggets. He joinedKobe Bryant as the only players with consecutive 40-point games at age 22 or younger in NBA postseason history.[61] In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Edwards scored a playoff career-high and franchise postseason-record 44 points, along with five rebounds and five assists, in a 115–107 loss to the Nuggets.[62] In Game 4 of theWestern Conference Finals, Edwards posted a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists in a 105–100 victory over theDallas Mavericks.[63] Minnesota would go on to lose to Dallas in five games despite Edwards 28-point, 9-rebound and 6-assist outing in a 124–103 close-out loss in Game 5.[64]
On January 4, 2025, Edwards scored a then career-high 53 points and tied his career-high with 10 three-pointers in a 119–105 loss to theDetroit Pistons.[65] On January 25, Edwards surpassedKarl-Anthony Towns for the most career three-pointers in Timberwolves franchise history with 976, in a 133–104 win over theDenver Nuggets.[66] On January 30, Edwards was named to his thirdAll-Star Game in a row as a Western Conference reserve.[67] On February 5, Edwards recorded 49 points (20 in the third quarter) and 9 rebounds in a 127–109 win over theChicago Bulls. He tiedKevin Garnett for the second-most 30-point games and tied Karl-Anthony Towns for the most 40-point games in team history.[68] The next day, Edwards had 41 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 127–114 win over theHouston Rockets. It was Edwards’ 14th career 40-point game, passing Towns (13) for the most in franchise history. He became just the third player in Minnesota history to tally back-to-back 40-point games, joiningAndrew Wiggins (2017) andKevin Love (2014). He also broke the record for the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-point baskets (23y, 185d).[69][70][71] On February 10, Edwards put up 44 points in a 128–107 loss to theCleveland Cavaliers. He became the first player in Timberwolves franchise history to achieve at least three consecutive 40-point games.[72] On April 10, Edwards scored 44 points, including 18 during Minnesota's franchise-record, 52-point third quarter, and the Timberwolves beat theMemphis Grizzlies 141–125.[73] At the end of the season, Edwards became the three-point scoring leader (320 3-pointers made). It was the first time in Edwards’ career that he reached 300 made 3s. It’s also the seventh-highest total in NBA history.[74] He also finished third in theNBA Clutch Player of the Year voting.[75]
On April 27, in Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs, Edwards scored 43 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists in a 116–113 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[76] On May 6, in Game 1 of the second round, Edwards recorded 23 points and a playoff career-high 14 rebounds in a 99–88 loss against theGolden State Warriors.[77] On May 14, in Game 5, Edwards had 22 points, 7 rebounds, and a playoff career-high 12 assists in a 121–110 closeout victory over the Warriors, guiding the Timberwolves to their second consecutiveWestern Conference Finals.[78] On May 24, In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Edwards tallied 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists in just three quarters, leading the Timberwolves to a 143–101 blowout win over theOklahoma City Thunder. The victory cut the Thunder’s series lead to 2–1 and marked the Timberwolves’ highest-scoring playoff game in franchise history.[79] Minnesota went on to lose to Oklahoma City in five games.
On November 30, 2025, Edwards scored 32 points in a 125–112 win over theSan Antonio Spurs, marking his 102nd career 30-point game and setting a new Timberwolves franchise record.[80][81] On December 2, Edwards scored a season-high 44 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 149–142 overtime victory over theNew Orleans Pelicans. He poured in 34 of those 44 points in the second half, including a driving layup with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation that forced overtime.[82]
On January 8, 2026, Edwards recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in a 131–122 win over theCleveland Cavaliers. With the performance, he became the seventh player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points before turning 25, joiningKobe Bryant,Tracy McGrady,LeBron James,Carmelo Anthony,Kevin Durant, andLuka Dončić. Edwards also became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, trailing only LeBron James and Kevin Durant.[83][84] On January 17, Edwards scored a career-high 55 points, including 26 in the fourth quarter, in a 126–123 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[85][86] On February 1, Edwards was named to his fourthAll-Star Game in a row as a Western Conference reserve.[87] He was named theNBA All-Star Game MVP after recording a total of 32 points and 9 rebounds in 26 minutes across 3 games for the USA Stars.[88]
Edwards was a member of theUnited States national team that competed in the2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He started all eight games and was selected in theAll-FIBA World Cup Team. He was the leading scorer for the U.S., averaging 18.9 points per game. The team finished in fourth place.[89] He was named to the2024 Olympic team.[90] He helped Team USA win the gold medal, and in six games, he averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 58% from the field.[91]
Edwards plays primarily as a shooting guard. He is listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighs 225lb (102 kilograms).[1] He’s known for his explosive athleticism, often going viral for his thunderousposter dunks, including one overJohn Collins that the NBA named the 2023–24 Dunk of the Year.[92]The Ringer called him "a preposterous athlete with a nice jumper and better instincts".[93] He’s drawn comparisons to a youngMichael Jordan for his ability to finish around the rim. “They have a lot of the same mannerisms. The moves, the fadeaway, the athleticism, the poster dunks… that same kind of work ethic, that same kind of ‘I don’t sleep at all at night because I’m ready to play, I’m ready to hoop,” according to teammateMike Conley.[94]
Despite pre-draft concerns that he was a limited long-range scorer, Edwards has developed an efficient, high-volume three-point shot — shooting 37% on eight attempts per game.[1] He led the NBA in three-pointers made for the 2024–25 season.[95] The same year, he became the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 threes.[69]
His stout frame, lateral speed and competitiveness have helped transform his reputation on the defensive end —Team USA coachSteve Kerr called his on-ball defense “amazing” during the FIBA World Cup.[96] His ability to match up against both long wings and shifty guards has garnered praise from Timberwolves head coachChris Finch. Edwards himself believes his defense is “overlooked” by the national media.[97] In 2024, he won the NBA Fan Favorite award for Block of Year after leaping to prevent a game-winning shot by thePacers'Aaron Nesmith.[98]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Minnesota | 72* | 55 | 32.1 | .417 | .329 | .776 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .5 | 19.3 |
| 2021–22 | Minnesota | 72 | 72 | 34.3 | .441 | .357 | .786 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .6 | 21.3 |
| 2022–23 | Minnesota | 79 | 79 | 36.0 | .459 | .369 | .756 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.6 | .7 | 24.6 |
| 2023–24 | Minnesota | 79 | 78 | 35.1 | .461 | .357 | .836 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 1.3 | .5 | 25.9 |
| 2024–25 | Minnesota | 79 | 79 | 36.3 | .447 | .395 | .837 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 1.2 | .6 | 27.6 |
| Career | 381 | 363 | 34.8 | .446 | .364 | .804 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 1.3 | .6 | 23.9 | |
| All-Star | 3 | 0 | 18.5 | .636 | .333 | — | 4.7 | 1.7 | .3 | .0 | 16.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Minnesota | 6 | 6 | 37.8 | .455 | .404 | .824 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 25.2 |
| 2023 | Minnesota | 5 | 5 | 39.7 | .482 | .349 | .846 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 31.6 |
| 2024 | Minnesota | 16 | 16 | 40.5 | .481 | .400 | .814 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 1.5 | .6 | 27.6 |
| 2025 | Minnesota | 15 | 15 | 39.0 | .453 | .354 | .719 | 7.8 | 5.5 | 1.1 | .7 | 25.3 |
| Career | 42 | 42 | 39.5 | .468 | .377 | .788 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 1.4 | .9 | 26.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20[99] | Georgia | 32 | 32 | 33.0 | .402 | .294 | .772 | 5.2 | 2.8 | 1.3 | .6 | 19.1 |
Edwards's daughter, Aislynn, was born in March 2024.[100] Edwards left the Timberwolves' March 1 game against theSacramento Kings at halftime to be with Aislynn's mother, Shannon, as their child was born.[101]
Edwards's mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley, both died of cancer during an eight-month span in 2015, when he was in eighth grade. He has worn theNo. 5 basketball jersey since high school to honor them, as they both died on the fifth day of the month.[102] After their deaths, Edwards was raised by his sister, Antoinette, and brother, Antoine, who sharedlegal custody of him.[103] In high school, Edwards frequently worked as an instructor at youth camps.[104] He intended to major inmarketing while attending theUniversity of Georgia.[105]
During his childhood, Edwards also starred in baseball, often acting as his team's fourth or fifth hitter in the batting order. He has jokingly said he was very skilled at a variety of sports when he was younger. He owns twodogs and has also expressed his affinity forlions, although he does not believe he has the requisite space to care for one.[106]
Edwards made his acting debut in the 2022 sports drama filmHustle.[107]
In 2023,Adidas released the AE1, his first signature shoe. It quickly became a best-seller, prompting the company to sign him to a multiyear extension worth "around $50 million".[108]
In September 2022, Edwards posted a video to Instagram story referring to a group of shirtless men standing on a sidewalk with a homophobic slur.[109] The NBA fined him $40,000 for using "offensive and derogatory language."[110]
In December 2023, Paige Jordae, anInstagram model, accused Edwards of impregnating her and then offering her $100,000 to get an abortion.[111] Jordae posted screenshots of text messages with Edwards.[112] The screenshots, which were initially posted to Jordae's Instagram story, also included a screenshot of a pending wire transfer of $100,000 on November 27, 2023.[113] Edwards responded, "I am handling my personal matters privately and will not be commenting on them any further at this time."[114]
