Windy says Anthony Edwards’ suspension is ‘not acceptable’ (1:30)
Brian Windhorst and Chiney Ogwumike discuss how Anthony Edwards’ ongoing issues with technical fouls will hurt Minnesota moving forward. (1:30)
Tim MacMahonFeb 28, 2025, 03:22 PM et
- Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
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Los Angeles – Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards has been issued an automatic one-game suspension after picking up two technical fouls in Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakersgiving him 16 this season.
Edwards sat out Friday’s road game against the Utah jazz.
Edwards had hoped that his 16th technical foul would be rescinded after the league office reviewed it.
“Whatever they’re gonna do, bruh,” Edwards told ESPN as he exited Crypto.com Arena briefly after the final buzzer. “I don’t even know. They should [rescind the second technical].”
Edwards was ejected Thursday night after drawing his second technical foul of the night with 5:21 remaining in the third quarter.
As Edwards walked toward the tunnel, he tossed the ball into the crowd, drawing a delay-of-game warning.
Edwards and Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt were called for double technical fouls when they exchanged shoves at the end of the first quarter.
Edwards’ second technical of the game occurred after he complained about a no-call when he felt he got fouled on a drive. He fell after Lakers guard Gabe Vincent‘s left foot clipped the back of Edwards’ right leg; he griped at referee Brent Barnaky while sitting on the floor.
“[Edwards] was issued his second unsportsmanlike technical foul for directing profanity towards a game official,” crew chief James Williams told a pool reporter.
Williams said Barnaky took into consideration that a second technical foul would result in an ejection before making the call against Edwards.
According to ESPN Research, Edwards is the first player to receive 16 technical fouls before March since DeMarcus Cousins in 2016-17. For every two additional technical fouls that Edwards receives during the regular season, he will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.
Edwards has been called for four technical fouls in four games since the All-Star break.
“He’s apologetic. He understands. I think he’s remorseful. I think he’s also frustrated by the whole run of events. He knows he needs to get better,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said Friday. “Hopefully, it’s gotten to a point where it has boiled over and he learns his lesson going forward.”
The league did not say if Edwards would be fined for throwing the ball into the stands after being ejected. He had already been docked $285,000 for five different transgressions, mostly language, when he said after a $50,000 penalty on Jan. 13 for an obscene gesture that he wouldn’t get any more technical fouls.
“Ant’s a pleasant guy. He’s not an angry guy. He’s not a mean guy. He’s not like always cursing at the officials. It’s just these outbursts he has that come out of frustration,” Finch said. “Ninety percent of his personality and interaction is super pleasant, usually smiling and happy. (He) loves the game.
“For me, the concern is obviously the missed games and just the amount of technicals in general. But I don’t want him to be unfairly labeled.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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