NBA fines Timberwolves player $50K for incident following loss to Nuggets

Anthony Edwards (basketball) – Anthony Edwards Kentavious Caldwell Pope (cropped) (cropped) – CC BY-SA

The NBA has fined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $50,000 for a chair-swinging incident following his team’s season-ending loss to the Denver Nuggets on April 25.

Edwards had just missed a three-pointer that could have tied the game when the clock ran out. With his team losing Game 5 112-109, Edwards picked up a folding chair and “struck two bystanders.” He then sprinted to exit the court of Ball Arena.

Due to the loss, the team was eliminated in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

The announcement had to wait for four months as the NBA waited for a criminal investigation into Edwards’ conduct. The player was charged with third-degree assault as the two bystanders, who worked for the venue, sustained minor injuries. The charges were dropped last month.

“NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $50,000 for recklessly swinging a chair in frustration that struck two bystanders as he exited the court at the conclusion of the Timberwolves’ playoff game against the Denver Nuggets on April 25 at Ball Arena,” the league announced Tuesday.

“In accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, the league’s review of this matter was deferred until after the criminal investigation into the player’s conduct concluded with charges dismissed last month.”

Despite the incident, Edwards has been named to the lineup of Team USA for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. The player also featured in the starting lineup in the recent tune-up game against Puerto Rico. He recorded a team-high 15 points and four steals to contribute to the team’s 117-74 win.

Edwards will join Team USA for four more friendlies ahead of their World Cup campaign. They will begin the tournament by facing New Zealand on August 26. Team USA finished seventh in the 2019 World Cup.