Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for “directing inappropriate language and making an obscene gesture toward a fan,” the league announced Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened during Game 1 of the Timberwolves’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, a game Minnesota won 117-95 to steal early momentum.
With 4:33 left in the third quarter, Edwards was seen exchanging words with a fan sitting courtside after Lakers supporters began mocking Rudy Gobert and the Wolves bench during a timeout. While the exact comments from the fans aren’t clear, it was enough to provoke a strong reaction from Edwards. In response, Edwards fired back by shouting, “He got $200 million,” then correcting himself to say, “$300 million,” referencing Gobert’s massive contract. Edwards then made a groin gesture toward the fan and said, “My d*ck bigger than yours,” an exchange that the NBA later cited when announcing the fine.
This is hardly the first time Edwards has found himself in hot water with the league office. Known for his fiery competitiveness and outspoken nature on the court, Edwards has developed a reputation for getting into back-and-forths with fans. Earlier this season, he racked up over $614,000 in fines, technical fouls, and even a one-game suspension after exceeding the technical foul limit.
Despite the controversy, Edwards played a major role in the Timberwolves’ dominant Game 1 victory. While he didn’t have a massive scoring night by his usual standards, he still finished with an impressive 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. He briefly exited the game with cramps but returned to help seal the win and give Minnesota a crucial early advantage in the series.
The Timberwolves and Lakers will square off again Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Minnesota will look to maintain their momentum and head back home with a commanding 2-0 series lead, while LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the desperate Lakers will try to bounce back and even the series.
For Edwards, the fine won’t come with any further punishment, and knowing his personality, it’s unlikely this incident will affect his play. If anything, it might just fire him up even more as he looks to help lead the Timberwolves on a deep playoff run.
