Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards was fined $40,000 for using “offensive and derogatory language on social media,” president of league operations Byron Spruell announced Tuesday.
The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/9O4HpZpxlB
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 20, 2022
Edwards tweeted an apology after the initial blowback from his comments.
“What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful and I’m incredibly sorry,” Edwards tweeted. “It’s unacceptable for me to anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, there’s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that.”
What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredibly sorry. It’s unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, there’s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!
— Anthony Edwards (@theantedwards_) September 11, 2022
The Timberwolves also expressed their disappointment with Edwards in a statement last week.
“We are disappointed in the language and actions Anthony Edwards displayed on social media,” the statement attributed to team president Tim Connelly read last Monday. “The Timberwolves are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming organization for all and apologize for the offense this has caused to so many.”
Minnesota picked Edwards No. 1 in the 2020 Draft out of Georgia.
The 21-year-old averaged 20.3 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in two seasons in the league.
The Timberwolves finished in seventh place in the Western Conference last season with a 46-36 record.
Minnesota defeated the LA Clippers in the Play-In before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of last season’s playoffs.