Anthony Edwards has given quite a bit of money to the NBA in the last two months of the year. But in fines, not in donations.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star was again fined by the league, this time for $75,000. The punishment, according to Joe Dumars, the NBA’s head of basketball operations, was “public criticism of the officiating official and the use of inappropriate and profane language.”
Edwards’ comments came after Minnesota’s 113-103 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
“They’re fucking awful. All of them, except the woman,” Edwards told reporters at his locker. ‘But the other two guys, terrible. Apologies for the reason they call a bug, the reason they don’t call a bug. That s*** was terrible.
“They don’t want to talk back to my coach, they don’t want to talk back to me,” he added. “I said one thing to the referee: he gave me a technique. Motherf***er said to one of my teammates that if I had said, ‘You’re all making a big mistake’, he wouldn’t have given me a penalty.” tech. They’re just sensitive and they’re horrible…they punish me and [Julius Randle] because you are stronger than our opponent every night. Don’t get any calls. So yes, that’s how I feel about the referees, every game we play.”
Sean Wright, Sean Corbin and Simone Jelks made up the officiating team for Saturday’s game.
Edwards only attempted four free throws in the game, making three, which likely motivated his tirade. The Timberwolves had 25 foul shots to the Warriors’ 23, so there was no significant difference between the two teams. But what wasn’t mentioned, according to Edwards, was clearly a problem. He was also whistled for four personal fouls in the game.
The fine imposed on Edwards is the NBA’s second in two weeks. He was also fined $25,000 for using profane language — but not to criticize officials, but to praise his teammates’ defense — after a Dec. 8 game, also against Golden State.
Edwards has been fined by the league three times in the last five weeks for a total of $135,000. On Nov. 17, the former No. 1 overall pick was paid $35,000 for giving a middle finger to a fan in Sacramento. What provoked Edwards’ gesture was not reported, but he was apparently motivated by Minnesota assistant coach Corliss Williamson, who said he had played “softly.” The incident did not involve profanity or anger toward officials.
The Timberwolves begin a three-game road trip against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night before a Christmas Day matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The trip ends with a Friday game with the Houston Rockets.
