The NBA has fined Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards $50K for his use of “profane language” during a postgame interview, the league announced in a press statement (via Twitter).
Edwards uttered the offending language (Twitter video link) 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 and Edwards bemoaned the fact that he “only took 13 f—ing shots” in Game 1.
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 was fined several times by the league over the course of the season for various transgressions, including repeatedly using profane language during media interviews.
He was docked $320K for six separate incidents prior to the playoffs, and that total doesn’t include the $242K he lost as a result of a one-game suspension or the smaller fines automatically assessed for each of his league-leading 17 technical fouls. He was also fined $50K for an exchange with a Lakers fan in round one.
