Anthony Edwards Bio
Anthony Edwards (born August 5, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed “Ant-Man” or simply “Ant,” he was selected with the first overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft after playing college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs. Edwards is a three-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, and an NBA All-Rookie First Team member. He helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and previously earned FIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team honors in 2023. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 225 pounds, Edwards has become one of the most dynamic shooting guards in professional basketball.
Anthony Edwards Early Life and Background
Anthony Edwards was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and spent his formative years in the Oakland City neighborhood. When he was three years old, his father gave him the nickname “Ant-Man,” which would later be shortened to “Ant.” During his early childhood, Edwards was a standout youth football player, competing as a running back, quarterback, and cornerback for the Atlanta Vikings in Pop Warner leagues. By age 10, he had established himself as one of the top youth running backs in the country. Edwards initially believed basketball looked more enjoyable after watching his brothers play the sport, prompting him to shift his focus to basketball around age 12. He often played basketball with his brothers at their grandmother’s house, developing his skills in informal settings before beginning more structured training.
Entering ninth grade, Edwards began training with Justin Holland, a former college basketball player for Liberty University and an Atlanta-based basketball trainer who helped refine his fundamentals. His early dedication to multiple sports, including baseball where he often batted fourth or fifth in the lineup, contributed to his exceptional hand-eye coordination and athleticism that would later define his basketball career.
Anthony Edwards Path to Professional Basketball
Edwards began his high school career at Therrell High School in Atlanta before transferring to Holy Spirit Preparatory School in early 2017. He initially reclassified to the 2020 class but returned to the 2019 class in November 2018 after demonstrating academic improvement. His move to Holy Spirit Preparatory was motivated by the school’s smaller class sizes and academic support. In March 2018, Edwards helped Holy Spirit Preparatory win the Georgia Independent School Association Class AAA state championship by defeating The Heritage School. Following his reclassification to the 2019 class, he rose to become the number one recruit in the Top247 rankings by 247Sports, making him the top shooting guard in his class.
As a senior at Holy Spirit Preparatory, Edwards averaged 29 points, nine rebounds, and two assists per game, earning USA Today All-USA first team recognition. He played in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic in March and April 2019. By consensus among major recruiting services, he was rated a five-star recruit, top-five player, and the top shooting guard in the 2019 class. On February 11, 2019, Edwards committed to play college basketball for Georgia, becoming the program’s highest-rated recruit in the modern recruiting era. He chose the Bulldogs over offers from Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina, partly because his favorite players Dwyane Wade and Victor Oladipo had been coached by Georgia head coach Tom Crean in college.
Anthony Edwards College Career
Edwards made his debut for the Georgia Bulldogs on November 5, 2019, recording 24 points, nine rebounds, and four steals in a 91-72 win over Western Carolina. The performance marked the most points by a Georgia freshman debutant since Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Dominique Wilkins in 1979. On November 26, he scored a season-high 37 points, including 33 in the second half, in a loss to third-ranked Michigan State at the Maui Invitational, becoming the first Georgia freshman to score at least 37 points in a game since Jacky Dorsey in 1975.
Throughout his freshman season, Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, leading his team in scoring and ranking among the top freshman scorers nationally. He earned second-team All-SEC honors and SEC Freshman of the Year accolades, collecting SEC Freshman of the Week honors four times during the season, the most in program history. He was also one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award, which recognizes the top collegiate shooting guard. On March 20, 2020, Edwards declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility as one of the most highly-touted prospects in his class.
Anthony Edwards Professional Career
Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-Present)
Anthony Edwards was selected with the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft, which was delayed five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 23, 2020, he made his NBA debut, recording 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists in a 25-minute performance during a win against the Detroit Pistons. On March 18, 2021, Edwards scored a then career-high 42 points against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in a game. Following his rookie season, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Edwards continued to elevate his game during his second season. On November 10, 2021, he scored a then career-high 48 points against the Golden State Warriors. On December 15, 2021, he recorded 38 points and a franchise-record 10 three-pointers against the Denver Nuggets, becoming the youngest NBA player ever with 10 three-pointers in a game at age 20. On January 25, 2022, he became the first player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and five three-pointers in a single game during a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. On April 7, 2022, he scored a then career-high 49 points against the San Antonio Spurs.
Edwards made his playoff debut on April 16, 2022, recording 36 points and six assists in a Game 1 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Timberwolves ultimately lost the series to Memphis despite Edwards averaging strong numbers throughout. He earned his first NBA All-Star selection in 2023 as a Western Conference reserve. During the 2022-23 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Edwards set a Timberwolves franchise record with 41 points in a playoff game. He joined Kobe Bryant as the only players with the second-most 30-point NBA playoff games before turning 22 years old.
Edwards changed his jersey number from #1 to #5 before the 2023-24 season, honoring his mother Yvette and grandmother Shirley, both of whom died of cancer during an eight-month span in 2015 when he was in eighth grade. Both women passed away on the fifth day of the month. On April 9, 2024, he scored a then career-high 51 points against the Washington Wizards. During the 2024 playoffs, Edwards led the Timberwolves to their first playoff series win in 20 years, defeating the Phoenix Suns in the first round. He scored a franchise postseason-record 43 points in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Nuggets, joining Kobe Bryant as the only players with consecutive 40-point games at age 22 or younger in NBA postseason history. The Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Dallas Mavericks.
During the 2024-25 season, Edwards established himself among the NBA’s elite players. On January 4, 2025, he scored a career-high 53 points against the Detroit Pistons. On January 25, 2025, he became the Timberwolves’ all-time leader in career three-pointers, surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns. He recorded 49 points against the Chicago Bulls on February 5, 2025, and followed with 41 points against the Houston Rockets the next day, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career three-pointers. Edwards led the NBA in three-pointers made during the 2024-25 season with 320 total, the seventh-highest single-season total in NBA history. He earned his third consecutive All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the second straight year. In the 2025 playoffs, he guided Minnesota back to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year.
Anthony Edwards National Team Career
Edwards represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, starting all eight games and earning selection to the FIBA World Cup All-Tournament Team. He led the U.S. team in scoring with 18.9 points per game as the Americans finished in fourth place. Edwards was subsequently named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team and helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Paris Games. In six Olympic games, he averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 58 percent from the field.
Anthony Edwards Driving Style and Strengths
Edwards plays primarily as a shooting guard and is renowned for his explosive athleticism and thunderous dunks. Despite pre-draft concerns about his long-range shooting ability, he has developed into an efficient, high-volume three-point shooter, connecting on approximately 37 percent of his eight attempts per game. He led the NBA in three-pointers made during the 2024-25 season. His stout frame, lateral speed, and competitive nature have also made him an improved defender capable of matching up against both lengthy wing players and shifty guards. Team USA coach Steve Kerr praised his on-ball defense during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has lauded his versatility on that end of the floor.
Anthony Edwards Notable Events and Milestones
Edwards has achieved numerous milestones throughout his career, including franchise records for the Timberwolves. His most recent milestone came on January 17, 2026, when he scored a career-high 55 points against the San Antonio Spurs. Earlier that month, he became the seventh player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points before turning 25, joining an elite group that includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Luka Dončić. He earned his fourth consecutive All-Star selection and was named NBA All-Star Game MVP after recording 32 points and 9 rebounds across three games for the USA Stars. Edwards has set franchise records for most career three-pointers and most 40-point games in Timberwolves history, and he became the first player in franchise history to record three consecutive 40-point games during the 2024-25 season.
Anthony Edwards Career Achievements
Anthony Edwards has accumulated significant accomplishments across his NBA career, college career, and international play. His achievements span multiple seasons with the Timberwolves, one season at Georgia, and participation with USA Basketball at major international competitions.
Anthony Edwards NBA Highlights
Edwards is a three-time NBA All-Star, earning selections in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as a Western Conference reserve. He has been named to the All-NBA Second Team in consecutive seasons, 2024 and 2025. As a rookie in 2021, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. He holds multiple Timberwolves franchise records including most career three-pointers and most 40-point games in team history. During the 2024-25 season, he led the NBA in three-pointers made with 320, ranking seventh on the all-time single-season list. His career-high 55 points scored against the San Antonio Spurs in January 2026 represents his highest individual scoring performance.
Anthony Edwards Other Achievements
At the college level, Edwards earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2020 and was named second-team All-SEC. He was one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award, recognizing the top shooting guard in college basketball. In international play, Edwards was named to the FIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team in 2023 after leading Team USA in scoring with 18.9 points per game. He won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. As a high school player, he earned McDonald’s All-American honors and USA Today All-USA first team recognition in 2019.
Anthony Edwards Family
Family Background
Anthony Edwards’ mother Yvette and grandmother Shirley both died of cancer during an eight-month span in 2015, when he was in eighth grade. Both women passed away on the fifth day of the month, which is why Edwards has worn the number 5 jersey since high school in their honor. Following their deaths, he was raised by his sister Antoinette and brother Antoine, who shared legal custody of him. He has credited his family with keeping him focused and supporting his basketball aspirations throughout his youth.
Anthony Edwards Personal Life
Edwards’ daughter Aislynn was born in March 2024. He left the Timberwolves’ game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2024, at halftime to be with Aislynn’s mother for the birth. In his personal time, Edwards has expressed a particular affinity for lions, though he has noted he does not believe he has the space to care for one. He owns two dogs and enjoys spending time with them. Edwards made his acting debut in the 2022 sports drama film Hustle. In 2023, Adidas released the AE1, his first signature shoe, which quickly became a best-seller. The success of the shoe line led to a multiyear extension with Adidas reportedly worth around $50 million. Edwards has also maintained involvement with youth basketball camps throughout his career, often drawing on his own journey from youth sports to professional basketball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NBA season represented a breakout campaign for Anthony Edwards as he established himself among the league’s elite players. He led the NBA in three-pointers made for the first time in his career, surpassing the 300-made three-pointer threshold and finishing with 320 total, ranking as the seventh-highest single-season total in NBA history. Edwards scored 30 or more points in 102 career games, setting a new Timberwolves franchise record and surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns’ previous mark. His remarkable consistency was on display throughout the season, particularly during a stretch in early February 2025 when he posted back-to-back 40-point performances against the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets.
Edwards’ scoring prowess reached new heights during the 2024-25 campaign, with his 53-point performance against the Detroit Pistons on January 4 standing as his season high until he surpassed it with 55 points in January 2026. His ability to carry the offensive load while also facilitating for teammates demonstrated his growth as an all-around player. He finished third in NBA Clutch Player of the Year voting, recognizing his performance in late-game situations. Working alongside head coach Chris Finch and a supportive cast that included veteran point guard Mike Conley, Edwards continued to develop his leadership qualities while guiding Minnesota through a competitive Western Conference.
Edwards’ trajectory suggests continued growth and impact as he enters his prime years. As the centerpiece of the Timberwolves’ franchise, he has demonstrated the ability to elevate his play when the stakes are highest, evidenced by his playoff performances and milestone achievements. His combination of explosive athleticism, improved three-point shooting, and competitive drive positions him as one of the NBA’s premier shooting guards. The 2024-25 season solidified his status as a generational talent capable of carrying a team deep into the postseason while entertaining fans with his highlight-reel plays and charismatic personality.