The league has fined Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards $50K for his use of “profane language” during a postgame interview, the NBA announced in a press statement (via Twitter).
Edwards uttered the offending language (Twitter video link via Underdog NBA) after Minnesota fell in a 114-88 Game 1 blowout road loss against the Thunder on Tuesday. He and three-time All-Star Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle were fielding reporters’ questions in a tandem appearance.
After a competitive first quarter-and-a-half, Oklahoma City clamped down defensively, and started heating up on the other end in the second half.
Edwards, 23, had a fairly modest-for-him scoring night in Game 1, while being deftly covered by a flurry of Thunder wings. He scored just 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field, plus 5-of-7 shooting from the foul line. Edwards also notched nine rebounds, three assists (against four turnovers) and a block. Most damning, however, was the -23 plus-minus he incurred during his 37 minutes on the hardwood.
So far in the playoffs, the 6’4″ pro has been averaging 25.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.4 SPG and 0.8 BPG, while leading his Timberwolves to their second straight Western Conference Finals appearance. The former No. 1 pick out of Georgia has been an electric two-way presence for his squad during his five seasons in the league, helping return Minnesota to consistent postseason relevance for the first time in a generation.