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 plays the shooting guard position and stands 6 feet 4 inches tall. Edwards was selected with the first overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA draft after one season at the University of Georgia. A three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, he also won a gold medal with the 2024 U.S. Olympic basketball team.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Edwards was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, growing up in the Oakland City neighborhood. His father gave him the nickname “Ant-Man” when he was three years old, a moniker that has followed him throughout his basketball career. For much of his childhood, Edwards played football, taking on roles as a running back, quarterback, and cornerback. He suited up for the Atlanta Vikings youth program and was regarded as one of the best Pop Warner running backs in the country by the time he was 10.
Edwards eventually turned to basketball after watching his brothers play the sport and deciding it looked more fun. He frequently played at his grandmother’s house with his siblings. Entering ninth grade, he began working with Justin Holland, a former Liberty University player and Atlanta-based basketball trainer, who helped shape his early development. Edwards also played baseball as a youth, often batting in the middle of the order.
Edwards faced heavy personal loss during his teenage years. His mother, Yvette, and his grandmother, Shirley, both died of cancer within an eight-month span in 2015, when he was in eighth grade. Both women passed away on the fifth day of their respective months, which led Edwards to wear the No. 5 jersey in their honor. He was subsequently raised by his older sister, Antoinette, and his brother, Antoine, who shared legal custody of him.
Path to 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, seeking smaller class sizes and stronger academic support. In March 2018, he helped Holy Spirit Preparatory capture the Georgia Independent School Association Class AAA state championship. He later reclassified back to the 2019 class in November 2018, a move that propelled him to the top of recruiting rankings.
By his senior season, Edwards had become a consensus five-star recruit and was rated the top shooting guard in the 2019 class by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. He averaged 29 points, nine rebounds, and two assists per game, earned USA Today All-USA first team recognition, and played in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Edwards chose the University of Georgia over Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina, in part because head coach Tom Crean had previously coached his favorite players, Dwyane Wade and Victor Oladipo.
Anthony Edwards Career
College Career (2019-2020)
Edwards made his Georgia Bulldogs debut on November 5, 2019, posting 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 Famer Dominique Wilkins in 1979. A few weeks later, he scored a season-high 37 points, including 33 in the second half, in a narrow loss to third-ranked Michigan State at the Maui Invitational.
As a freshman, Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, serving as Georgia’s top scorer. He earned second-team All-SEC honors and was named SEC Freshman of the Year, collecting SEC Freshman of the Week accolades four times. He was also a finalist for the Jerry West Award, given to the top collegiate shooting guard. On March 20, 2020, Edwards declared for the 2020 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
NBA Rookie Season (2020-2021)
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Edwards with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, which had been delayed by five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, recording 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 25 minutes during a 111-101 win over the Detroit Pistons. On March 18, 2021, he scored a then career-high 42 points against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach the 40-point mark.
Edwards finished his rookie campaign as the runner-up for NBA Rookie of the Year and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. His combination of explosive athleticism and scoring ability quickly established him as a foundational piece for the Timberwolves franchise.
Early NBA Seasons (2021-2023)
In his second season, Edwards continued to elevate his game, scoring a then career-high 48 points against the Golden State Warriors on November 10, 2021. Days later, he set a franchise record with 10 three-pointers in a win over the Denver Nuggets, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to accomplish the feat. On January 25, 2022, he became the first NBA player to record at least 40 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, three steals, and five three-pointers in a single game.
Edwards made his playoff debut on April 16, 2022, scoring 36 points in a Game 1 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The following February, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time as an injury replacement, earning Western Conference reserve honors. He closed the 2022-23 season with a 26-point, 13-rebound performance against the New Orleans Pelicans, helping the Timberwolves secure the eighth seed in the play-in tournament.
Minnesota Timberwolves Era (2023-Present)
Edwards changed his jersey number from No. 1 to No. 5 before the 2023-24 season to honor his late mother and grandmother. That year, he was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season and earned his first All-NBA Second Team selection after scoring a then career-high 51 points against the Washington Wizards. In the playoffs, he led the Timberwolves to their first playoff series victory in 20 years, scoring 40 points in a series-clinching win over the Phoenix Suns.
During the 2024-25 season, Edwards set a new career high with 53 points against the Detroit Pistons on January 4, 2025, and tied his career best with 10 three-pointers. He surpassed Karl-Anthony Towns for the most career three-pointers in Timberwolves history and broke the record as the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 made three-pointers. He finished the regular season as the NBA’s three-point leader with 320 made triples, tied for the seventh-highest single-season total in league history.
Edwards also represented the United States on the international stage. He started all eight games at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaging 18.9 points per game and earning All-Tournament Team honors. In 2024, he helped Team USA win the Olympic gold medal, contributing 12.8 points per game across six contests on 58 percent shooting from the field.
Driving Style and Strengths
Edwards is widely regarded as one of the most explosive athletes in the NBA, frequently producing viral poster dunks. The NBA named his dunk over John Collins the 2023-24 Dunk of the Year. Once viewed as a streaky shooter, he has developed into one of the league’s most efficient high-volume three-point threats, and his stout frame and lateral quickness have turned him into a respected on-ball defender praised by coaches and teammates alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Edwards has authored several historic scoring performances, including becoming the youngest player to reach 1,000 career three-pointers and setting Timberwolves franchise records for career three-pointers made and 30-point games. He joined Kobe Bryant as one of only two players with consecutive 40-point playoff games at age 22 or younger, and his three consecutive 40-point games in February 2025 marked a first in franchise history.
Anthony Edwards Career Wins
Anthony Edwards has yet to capture a series-defining championship, but his individual accolades and franchise milestones reflect a rapidly rising career. His scoring exploits have repeatedly placed him in the NBA record book, and he has helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back postseasons.
NBA Highlights
Edwards is a three-time NBA All-Star in 2023, 2024, and 2025, a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection in 2024 and 2025, and a 2021 NBA All-Rookie First Team honoree. He led the NBA in three-pointers made during the 2024-25 season and finished third in NBA Clutch Player of the Year voting that same year.
International and Off-Court Performances
Edwards earned All-Tournament Team honors at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup after leading the United States in scoring, and he captured an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in 2024. He also made his acting debut in the 2022 sports drama film Hustle and released his first signature shoe, the Adidas AE1, in 2023, later signing a multiyear extension reportedly worth around $50 million.
Anthony Edwards Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Edwards comes from a close-knit Atlanta family shaped by both sport and adversity. He was raised primarily by his older sister, Antoinette, and his brother, Antoine, after losing his mother, Yvette, and his grandmother, Shirley, to cancer in 2015.
Personal Life
Edwards welcomed his daughter, Aislynn, in March 2024, leaving a Timberwolves game at halftime to be present for her birth alongside her mother, Shannon. He is an active social media presence and has expressed a fondness for dogs and lions, though he has joked that he lacks the space to care for a lion. He intends to major in marketing.
2025 Season Performance
Edwards opened the 2025-26 season in vintage form, recording 32 points in a November 30 win over the San Antonio Spurs to set a new Timberwolves franchise record with his 102nd career 30-point game. Two days later, he poured in a season-high 44 points, including 34 in the second half, to lead Minnesota to a 149-142 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. His late-game driving layup with 2.3 seconds remaining forced overtime and highlighted his growing reputation as a closer.
Coming off back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, Edwards and the Timberwolves entered the new campaign with momentum and raised expectations. His blend of elite scoring, improving defense, and leadership continues to anchor a Minnesota team built around his two-way presence. With his historic three-point shooting and an evolving all-around game, Edwards remains the centerpiece of the Timberwolves’ championship aspirations.