"Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards Charged with Third-Degree Assault Following Game 5 Loss Against Denver Nuggets"

ParallelDesk 01:06:11 PM, 27 April 2023

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Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves' rising star, has been charged with third-degree assault after allegedly throwing a folding chair that struck two female employees as he exited the court following the Timberwolves' Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. The incident took place in Colorado, and the Denver Police Department cited Edwards before he left the arena. According to reports, the two female employees suffered injuries but were not serious. If convicted, Edwards could face up to 18 months in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The Timberwolves released a statement saying that they were aware of the incident and were gathering more information. This is not the first time Edwards has gotten into trouble this season. Before the season started, the NBA fined him $40,000 for making homophobic and disparaging comments in a video he posted on his Instagram account. The Timberwolves also admonished Edwards, who apologized afterward. Edwards had a breakout series against the Nuggets, averaging 31.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.0 blocks in just five games. He was on the brink of superstardom before this incident occurred. The assault charge comes at a critical time for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are facing some significant decisions going forward. Edwards is eligible to sign a rookie max contract this summer worth around $197 million, and the Timberwolves are likely to prioritize signing him to a new deal. However, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have not played together enough to judge their fit with each other, and both players could be in trade rumors during the offseason. Edwards is scheduled to appear in court on June 9 in Denver, and the outcome of the case remains uncertain. It will be interesting to see whether the employees settle the assault charge or choose to pursue legal action against Edwards.