Anthony Edwards

 

Anthony Edwards (born August 5, 2001), nicknamed “Ant-Man” or simply “Ant,” is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A shooting guard standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg), Edwards was selected with the first overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft. He is a four-time NBA All-Star (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection (2024, 2025), and won a gold medal with the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

 

Edwards is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s most explosive and charismatic young stars, known for his exceptional athleticism, scoring ability, and competitive intensity. He has emerged as the face of the Timberwolves franchise and one of the league’s premier players.

 

Early Life and High School Career

 

Edwards was born on August 5, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. He faced immense personal tragedy during his childhood, losing his mother to cancer in 2015 when he was 14 years old, and his grandmother, who raised him after his mother’s death, passed away just eight months later in 2016. These losses profoundly shaped Edwards’ perspective and motivated his basketball career.

 

Edwards attended Therrell High School in Atlanta before transferring to Holy Spirit Preparatory School for his senior season. As a senior, he averaged 29.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, leading Holy Spirit to the 2019 Georgia Independent School Association Class 3A state championship. He was rated as a consensus five-star recruit by major recruiting services and was ranked among the top five players nationally in the 2019 class. Edwards earned McDonald’s All-American honors and was named USA Today All-USA First Team.

 

College Career

 

Edwards committed to the University of Georgia, becoming the highest-rated recruit to sign with the Bulldogs in program history. During his freshman season (2019-20), he led the nation’s freshmen in scoring, averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 29.4% from three-point range.

 

Edwards scored 610 points, the 10th-most by an SEC freshman in history and seventh-highest single-season total by a Georgia player. He recorded three 30-point games, including a career-high 37 points against Michigan State in the Maui Invitational, with 33 points coming in the second half alone. Edwards was named SEC Freshman of the Year by both the Associated Press and league coaches, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors a school-record four times. He was also selected as the Georgia College Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

 

Following his freshman season, Edwards declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, becoming Georgia’s first-ever first overall pick and the highest-drafted Bulldog in program history, surpassing Dominique Wilkins (third overall, 1982).

 

NBA Career

 

Early Career (2020–2023)

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Edwards with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft on November 18, 2020, after the draft was delayed five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, recording 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 25 minutes in a win against Detroit.

 

On March 18, 2021, Edwards scored a then-career-high 42 points against Phoenix, becoming the third-youngest player to score 40+ points in NBA history. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind LaMelo Ball and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

 

In his second season (2021-22), Edwards scored a then-career-high 48 points on November 10, 2021, against Golden State. In his playoff debut on April 16, 2022, he logged 36 points and 6 assists in a Game 1 win over Memphis. Edwards finished the 2022 playoffs with 11 games of 30+ points, joining Kobe Bryant with the second-most 30-point playoff games before turning 22 years old.

 

All-Star Emergence (2023–Present)

 

On February 10, 2023, Edwards was named to his first All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Stephen Curry. He has since been selected to three consecutive All-Star Games (2024, 2025, 2026).

 

Before the 2023-24 season, Edwards changed his jersey number from #1 to #5. On November 13, 2023, he was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time. In the 2024 playoffs, Edwards set multiple franchise and personal records. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, he scored a then-playoff career-high 43 points against Denver, joining Kobe Bryant as the only players with consecutive 40-point playoff games at age 22 or younger. In Game 4 of the same series, he broke his own record with 44 points. Edwards surpassed Kevin Garnett for the most 30-point playoff games in Timberwolves franchise history with eight.

 

Despite posting 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists in Game 4 of the 2024 Western Conference Finals against Dallas, the Timberwolves lost the series in five games. Edwards finished the 2023-24 season averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, earning All-NBA Second Team honors.

 

The 2024-25 season saw Minnesota return to the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder despite Edwards’ strong individual performances. 

 

Current Season (2025-26)

 

Anthony Edwards is currently third in the NBA in scoring. On February 9, 2026, Edwards scored 30 points in a 138-116 victory over Atlanta, marking his 25th 30-point game of the season and his fifth in the last six games heading into the All-Star break. He was selected for his fourth consecutive All-Star Game on February 16, 2026, in Los Angeles.

 

His appearance in the 2026 All-Star Game on February 15 was particularly notable. He started for the USA Stars and finished with 24 points and 6 assists, helping lead his team to a victory in the All-Star tournament final against the International Stars. He was named All-Star Game MVP. 

 

Edwards has dealt with minor injuries throughout the season, including right foot and elbow issues, but has remained largely available and continues to be the Timberwolves’ primary offensive option. Following Minnesota’s acquisition of Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago at the trade deadline, Edwards has embraced more of a point guard role in facilitating the offense.

 

International Career

 

Edwards represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, winning a gold medal. His performances showcased his elite talent on the international stage alongside NBA superstars.

 

Personal Life

 

Edwards is known for his outgoing personality, charisma, and entertaining social media presence. He has spoken openly about overcoming personal tragedy and using basketball as an outlet after losing his mother and grandmother. Edwards remains connected to his Atlanta roots and is actively involved in community outreach programs.

 

References

 

External Links

* Anthony Edwards on NBA.com

* Anthony Edwards on Basketball-Reference.com